Abramovite is a rare indium-lead sulfosalt discovered in the fumaroles of the Kudryavy volcano. It typically occurs as minute, gray metallic grains or platy crystals and is primarily sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this abramovite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch abramovite with a known reference. Abramovite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: encrustations.
Often confused with
Abramovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside abramovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with abramovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂SnInBiS₇
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 7.52 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A product of precipitation from fumarolic gases (600° C) in an active stratovolcano
Where rockhounds find abramovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kupol fumarole field, Kudryavy volcano, Iturup Island, southern Kurile Islands, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A product of precipitation from fumarolic gases (600° C) in an active stratovolcano. If you start seeing pyrrhotite, pyrite, wurzite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify abramovite?+
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Find abramovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
