Buckhornite is an extremely rare lead-bismuth telluride sulfosalt typically found as microscopic grains in complex telluride deposits. It is best identified through lab analysis of telluride-gold veins where it appears as a dull, metallic gray inclusion within or alongside other telluride minerals.
Is this buckhornite?
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 buckhornite with a known reference. Buckhornite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Buckhornite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Buckhornite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Buckhornite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Buckhornite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Buckhornite leaves black, Tetradymite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Buckhornite leaves black, Tellurobismuthite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside buckhornite
Minerals reported to co-occur with buckhornite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂BiTe₂S₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 8.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Epithermal Telluride-rich Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and rarity
Where rockhounds find buckhornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Boulder County, Colorado, USA
- Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal telluride-rich hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where buckhornite typically forms. If you start seeing pyrite, gold, coloradoite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find buckhornite on the map
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