Burckhardtite is a rare lead-iron tellurite-silicate mineral characterized by its distinctive platy habit and pearly luster. It is primarily found in the oxidized zones of tellurium-rich ore deposits, most notably at its type locality in the Moctezuma Mine of Mexico. Collectors should look for its thin, mica-like crystals associated with other rare tellurium secondary minerals.
Is this burckhardtite?
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 burckhardtite with a known reference. Burckhardtite sits at Mohs ~2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale red.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to slightly pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: violet red, carmine red, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal.
Often confused with
Burckhardtite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Burckhardtite leaves pale red, Tellurite leaves white; luster reads adamantine to slightly pearly on Burckhardtite and subadamantine on Tellurite.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~5 vs. ~2); luster reads adamantine to slightly pearly on Burckhardtite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
Often found alongside burckhardtite
Minerals reported to co-occur with burckhardtite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂(FeTe)[AlSi₃O₈]O₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 4.96 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale red
- Luster
- Adamantine to slightly pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Perfect micaceous, basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a breccia, loosely cemented by dickite, in very thin disseminations on quartz fragments
Where rockhounds find burckhardtite
Classic worldwide localities
- Moctezuma mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a breccia, loosely cemented by dickite, in very thin disseminations on quartz fragments. If you start seeing moctezumite, zemannite, tellurite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find burckhardtite on the map
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