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.
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 — that is 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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