Felbertalite is a rare sulfosalt mineral primarily known from its type locality in the Felbertal scheelite deposit of Austria. It typically forms slender, needle-like crystals or metallic radial sprays often associated with scheelite within quartz veins.
Is this felbertalite?
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 felbertalite with a known reference. Felbertalite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Felbertalite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Felbertalite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, lead-gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or prismatic crystals, commonly in radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Felbertalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Felbertalite leaves black, Aikinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Felbertalite leaves black, Galenobismutite leaves grayish-black.
Often found alongside felbertalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with felbertalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂Pb₆Bi₈S₁₉
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Prismatic Crystals, Commonly in Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Scheelite-bearing Quartz Veins in Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find felbertalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Felbertal, Salzburg, Austria
- Binn Valley, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal scheelite-bearing quartz veins in metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where felbertalite typically forms. If you start seeing scheelite, quartz, molybdenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or prismatic crystals, commonly in radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find felbertalite on the map
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