Boleite is a striking, deep indigo-blue mineral famous for forming perfect cubic crystals. It is primarily found in oxidized marine-type copper deposits where it forms as a rare secondary mineral alongside other silver and lead halides.
Is this boleite?
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 boleite with a known reference. Boleite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Boleite leaves a light blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Boleite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: indigo blue, dark blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: pseudocubic crystals, tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Boleite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Boleite leaves light blue, Pseudoboleite leaves blue.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Boleite leaves light blue, Cumengeite leaves pale blue; luster reads vitreous on Boleite and vitreous to adamantine on Cumengeite.
Often found alongside boleite
Minerals reported to co-occur with boleite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KPb₂₆Ag₉Cu₂₄Cl₆₂(OH)₄₈
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.0-5.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Pseudocubic Crystals, Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail, $500-2000+ cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find boleite
Classic worldwide localities
- Boleo District, Mexico
- Mammoth-St. Anthony Mine, USA
- Kombat Mine, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized copper deposits country, the host setting where boleite typically forms. If you start seeing pseudoboleite, cumengeite, atacamite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudocubic crystals, tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find boleite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
