Edenharterite is an extremely rare thallium-lead sulfosalt discovered in the famous Lengenbach locality of the Swiss Alps. It typically occurs as small, lead-gray prismatic crystals embedded within dolomite, often associated with other exotic sulfosalts.
Is this edenharterite?
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 edenharterite with a known reference. Edenharterite 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. Streak: raspberry-red.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish black, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Edenharterite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Edenharterite leaves raspberry-red, Lengenbachite leaves brown-black; luster reads submetallic on Edenharterite and metallic on Lengenbachite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Edenharterite leaves raspberry-red, Smithite leaves vermilion; luster reads submetallic on Edenharterite and adamantine on Smithite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Edenharterite leaves raspberry-red, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads submetallic on Edenharterite and metallic on Galena.
Often found alongside edenharterite
Minerals reported to co-occur with edenharterite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Tl,Pb)₃As₅S₉
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 5.09 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Raspberry-red
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- One, parallel to {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermal deposit in dolostone
Where rockhounds find edenharterite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermal deposit in dolostone. If you start seeing baumhauerite, realgar, orpiment in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find edenharterite on the map
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