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.

Hardness

~2.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous to resinous

Streak

Pale blue

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Chenite

Hardness: ~2.5
Luster: Vitreous to resinous
Streak: Pale blue
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Is this chenite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch chenite with a known reference. Chenite sits at Mohs ~2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: sky blue.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, prismatic.

Often confused with

Chenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Brochantite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. ~2.5).

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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: CuPb₄(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Mohs hardness: ~2.5
Density: 5.98 g/cm³
Colors: Sky blue
Streak: Pale blue
Luster: Vitreous to resinous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Microscopic crystals, prismatic
Cleavage: On {100}, good; traces of a second one on {001}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Of rare occurrence in the oxidized portions of some Pb–Cu sulfide deposits

Where rockhounds find chenite

Classic worldwide localities

Susanna mine, Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Llechwedd Helyg mine, Tir-y-Mynach, Dyfed, Wales
Driggith mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Virneberg mine, near Rheinbreitbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, and at Ramsbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Of rare occurrence in the oxidized portions of some Pb–Cu sulfide deposits. If you start seeing caledonite, linarite, leadhillite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify chenite?+

Mohs hardness is ~2.5. Luster: vitreous to resinous. The streak is pale blue. Common colors include sky blue.

Where is chenite found?+

Notable localities include Susanna mine, Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland; Llechwedd Helyg mine, Tir-y-Mynach, Dyfed, Wales; Driggith mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England; Virneberg mine, near Rheinbreitbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, and at Ramsbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Is chenite safe to handle?+

Chenite contains copper and lead. Contains lead; wash hands thoroughly after handling and avoid inhaling dust or ingestion.

What rocks look like chenite?+

Chenite is most often confused with Linarite, Brochantite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with chenite?+

Chenite commonly co-occurs with Caledonite, Linarite, Leadhillite, Susannite, Elyite, Lanarkite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does chenite form in?+

Where it forms: Of rare occurrence in the oxidized portions of some Pb–Cu sulfide deposits. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is chenite used for?+

Chenite is used in collector.

Find chenite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.