Cupropavonite is a rare sulfosalt mineral found within hydrothermal sulfide deposits. It typically appears as metallic, steel-gray grains intergrown with other lead and bismuth sulfides, making identification difficult without micro-analysis.
Is this cupropavonite?
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 cupropavonite with a known reference. Cupropavonite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: lead gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive aggregates.
Often confused with
Cupropavonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cupropavonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cupropavonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₀.₉Ag₀.₅Pb₀.₆Bi₂.₅S₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 7.04 g/cm³
- Streak
- Lead gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, massive aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In zoned mesothermal base- and precious-metal veins
Where rockhounds find cupropavonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Colorado, from the Alaska mine, Poughkeepsie Gulch, near Ouray, San Juan Co. (type locality), and at the Missouri mine, Hall’s Valley, Park Co., USA
- Campbell mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- April Fool mine, Delamar district, Lincoln Co., Nevada, USA
- Stănija and Băiţa (Rézbánya), Romania
- Waschgang Au–Cu deposit, Goldberg Mountains, Upper Carinthia, Austria
- Saxony, Germany, otherwise undefined
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In zoned mesothermal base- and precious-metal veins. If you start seeing pavonite, gustavite, cuprobismutite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cupropavonite?+
Where is cupropavonite found?+
Is cupropavonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like cupropavonite?+
What minerals are found with cupropavonite?+
What kind of rock does cupropavonite form in?+
What is cupropavonite used for?+
Find cupropavonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
