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, 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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