Chaméanite is a rare copper iron arsenic sulfosalt, typically dark gray. Associated minerals include giraudite, eskebornite and geffroyite. It was first described from Chaméane uranium mine, near Vernet-la-Varenne, Puy-de-Dôme, France.
Is this chaméanite?
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 chaméanite with a known reference. Chaméanite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, grayish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Chaméanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chaméanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chaméanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Cu,Fe)₄As(Se,S)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 6.17 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As late-stage deposits in veins cutting granite (Chaméane mine, France); in a telethermal selenium-rich hydrothermal polymetallic deposit, in calcite veins in amphibolites (Tuminico, Argentina)
Where rockhounds find chaméanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chaméane uranium mine, near Vernet-la-Varenne, Puy-de-Dôme, France (type locality)
- Tuminico, Sierra de Cacho, La Rioja Province, Argentina
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As late-stage deposits in veins cutting granite (Chaméane mine, France); in a telethermal selenium-rich hydrothermal polymetallic deposit, in calcite veins in amphibolites (Tuminico, Argentina). If you start seeing giraudite, eskebornite, geffroyite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chaméanite?+
Where is chaméanite found?+
Is chaméanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like chaméanite?+
What minerals are found with chaméanite?+
What kind of rock does chaméanite form in?+
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Find chaméanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
