Chovanite is a rare lead-copper-antimony sulfosalt known primarily from its type locality in Bulgaria. Collectors look for its metallic gray, needle-like or bladed crystals often associated with other base-metal sulfides in hydrothermal environments.
Is this chovanite?
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 chovanite with a known reference. Chovanite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Chovanite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chovanite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular to prismatic crystals, often as fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Chovanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chovanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chovanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂₆Cu₆Sb₂₆S₆₉
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular to Prismatic Crystals, Often as Fibrous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Sulfide Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find chovanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Madjarovo, Bulgaria
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal sulfide veins country — that is the host setting where chovanite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular to prismatic crystals, often as fibrous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find chovanite on the map
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