Emplectite is a rare copper bismuth sulfide that typically occurs as slender, needle-like or bladed crystals. Collectors prize its distinct metallic luster and striated habits, often found within complex hydrothermal vein deposits alongside other bismuth-bearing minerals.
Is this emplectite?
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 emplectite with a known reference. Emplectite 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: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, grayish yellow, silver white, tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular, massive, prismatic.
Often confused with
Emplectite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside emplectite
Minerals reported to co-occur with emplectite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuBiS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.38 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, massive, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}, less so on {001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins with other sulfides and sulfosalts formed at medium temperatures
Where rockhounds find emplectite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Saxony, sharp crystals from Johanngeorgenstadt (type locality), Germany
- Tannenbaum mine, near Schwarzenberg, Germany
- Schneeberg, Annaberg, the Sadisdorf copper mine, near Schmiedeberg, Germany
- Wittichen, Black Forest, Germany
- Krupka, Horní Slavkov (Schlaggenwald), and Cínovec (Zinnwald), Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins with other sulfides and sulfosalts formed at medium temperatures. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular, massive, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify emplectite?+
Where is emplectite found?+
Is emplectite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like emplectite?+
What minerals are found with emplectite?+
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Find emplectite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
