Clausthalite is a rare lead selenide mineral that typically forms as an opaque, lead-gray mass within hydrothermal veins. It is most easily identified by its association with selenium-bearing minerals and its strong metallic luster; it is often found as a minor component in silver or uranium ore deposits.
Is this clausthalite?
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 clausthalite with a known reference. Clausthalite sits at Mohs 2.5-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Clausthalite leaves a gray-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Clausthalite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, bluish-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: rarely as cubic crystals, typically massive, granular, or as inclusions in other sulfides.
Often confused with
Clausthalite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Clausthalite leaves gray-black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Clausthalite leaves gray-black, Hessite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Clausthalite leaves gray-black, Aguilarite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside clausthalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with clausthalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbSe
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 8.1-8.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Rarely as Cubic Crystals, Typically Massive, Granular, Or as Inclusions in Other Sulfides
- Cleavage
- Perfect Cubic
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Selenide-bearing Mineral Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and rarity
Where rockhounds find clausthalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
- Hope, British Columbia, Canada
- Taseq Slope, Greenland
- Silver City, Idaho, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, selenide-bearing mineral deposits country — that is the host setting where clausthalite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, uraninite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a rarely as cubic crystals, typically massive, granular, or as inclusions in other sulfides habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find clausthalite on the map
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