Chenite is an extremely rare lead-copper sulfate mineral known for its striking bright green, transparent crystals. It is primarily found as a secondary mineral in oxidized zones of lead-copper mines, often appearing as small, sharp tabular crystals in association with other lead minerals like linarite.
Is this chenite?
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 chenite with a known reference. Chenite 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. Chenite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chenite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, subparallel aggregates.
Often confused with
Chenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Chenite leaves pale yellow, Linarite leaves pale blue; luster reads adamantine on Chenite and vitreous on Linarite.
How to tell apart: Brochantite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Chenite leaves pale yellow, Brochantite leaves pale-green; luster reads adamantine on Chenite and vitreous on Brochantite.
Often found alongside chenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄Cu(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.08 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Subparallel Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Lead-copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find chenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Leadhills, Scotland
- Mammoth-Saint Anthony mine, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal lead-copper deposits country — that is the host setting where chenite typically forms. If you start seeing linarite, cerussite, hydrocerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, subparallel aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find chenite on the map
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