Cupromakovickyite is a rare sulfosalt mineral found primarily in hydrothermal sulfide deposits. It typically appears as lead-gray, platy metallic grains and is most often identified through analytical techniques in association with other rare bismuth minerals.
Is this cupromakovickyite?
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 cupromakovickyite with a known reference. Cupromakovickyite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Cupromakovickyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cupromakovickyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Cupromakovickyite leaves gray, Pavonite leaves lead gray.
How to tell apart: Cupromakovickyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Cupromakovickyite leaves gray, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Cupromakovickyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Cupromakovickyite leaves gray, Tetradymite leaves pale steel-gray.
Often found alongside cupromakovickyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cupromakovickyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄AgPb₂Bi₉S₁₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.78 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, granular aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As exsolution lamellae or discrete grains associated with sulfosalts in contact metamorphic rocks (skarns) around granite and in scheelite-bearing quartz veins in felsic gneisses and amphibolites
Where rockhounds find cupromakovickyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Băiţa Bihor, Apuseni Mts, Romania, Austria
- Felbertal scheelite deposit, Hohe Tauern, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As exsolution lamellae or discrete grains associated with sulfosalts in contact metamorphic rocks (skarns) around granite and in scheelite-bearing quartz veins in felsic gneisses and amphibolites. If you start seeing aikinite-friedrichite, hodrušite, padĕraite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cupromakovickyite on the map
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