Albertite is a solid, black bituminous hydrocarbon that behaves like a brittle asphalt. It typically occurs as veins filling fractures in sedimentary rocks and was historically mined as a source of oil and gas. Collectors value it for its glossy appearance and its unique role in the history of the petroleum industry.
Is this albertite?
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 albertite with a known reference. Albertite sits at Mohs 1-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to brilliant.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Albertite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside albertite
Minerals reported to co-occur with albertite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 1.07-1.10 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish black
- Luster
- Resinous to brilliant
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Historical industrial
- Host rock
- sedimentary shale
Where rockhounds find albertite
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
- Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: sedimentary shale. If you start seeing calcite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify albertite?+
Where is albertite found?+
Can I find albertite in the United States?+
What rocks look like albertite?+
What minerals are found with albertite?+
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Find albertite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
