Creaseyite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidation zones of lead-copper mines. It typically occurs as delicate, bright green acicular or fibrous tufts and radiating sprays on a matrix of heavier lead ores.
Is this creaseyite?
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 creaseyite with a known reference. Creaseyite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Creaseyite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Creaseyite typically shows a silky luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radial aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Creaseyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Creaseyite leaves pale green, Duftite leaves light green; luster reads silky on Creaseyite and vitreous on Duftite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Creaseyite leaves pale green, Conichalcite leaves light green; luster reads silky on Creaseyite and vitreous on Conichalcite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Creaseyite leaves pale green, Malachite leaves light green; luster reads silky on Creaseyite and vitreous on Malachite.
Often found alongside creaseyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with creaseyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Cu₂(Fe³⁺,Al)₂(Si₅O₁₇)(OH)·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Radial Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead-copper Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find creaseyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mammoth-St. Anthony Mine, Arizona, USA
- Tiger, Arizona, USA
- Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead-copper hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where creaseyite typically forms. If you start seeing wulfenite, dioptase, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, radial aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find creaseyite on the map
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