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. Albertite leaves a brownish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Albertite typically shows a resinous to brilliant luster.
- 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
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find albertite
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
- Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary shale country — that is the host setting where albertite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so 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
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Find albertite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
