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 3.3-3.4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 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: granular.
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 grayish black, Cosalite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Felbertalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3-3.4 vs. 2-2.5).
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Felbertalite leaves grayish black, Galenobismutite leaves 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
- 3.3-3.4
- Density
- 6.948 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermal tungsten deposit in amphibolites and felsic gneisses, in discordant quartz veins (Felbertal mine, Austria)
Where rockhounds find felbertalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Felbertal tungsten mine, Salzburg, Austria (type locality)
- Funiushan copper skarn deposit, 26 km east of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermal tungsten deposit in amphibolites and felsic gneisses, in discordant quartz veins (Felbertal mine, Austria). If you start seeing cosalite, lillianite, bismuthinite–aikinite species in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. 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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