Ferribushmakinite is a rare lead-copper-iron phosphate mineral belonging to the bushmakinite group. It typically occurs as small, yellow to yellow-green platy crystals within the oxidized zones of lead-bearing hydrothermal deposits.
Is this ferribushmakinite?
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 ferribushmakinite with a known reference. Ferribushmakinite 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: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Ferribushmakinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Bushmakinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Ferribushmakinite leaves pale yellow, Bushmakinite leaves yellowish; luster reads adamantine on Ferribushmakinite and vitreous on Bushmakinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferribushmakinite leaves pale yellow, Vauquelinite leaves greenish to brownish.
Often found alongside ferribushmakinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ferribushmakinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Fe(PO₄)(VO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 6.154 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Fair, two directions ∥ [010]
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A low-temperature, secondary mineral in the oxidized portion of a quartz vein containing argentiferous galena, sphalerite and pyrite, and cutting phosphatic argillite
Where rockhounds find ferribushmakinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Berezovskoe deposit, Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A low-temperature, secondary mineral in the oxidized portion of a quartz vein containing argentiferous galena, sphalerite and pyrite, and cutting phosphatic argillite. If you start seeing plumbogummite, mottramite, br-rich chlorargyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ferribushmakinite?+
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What rocks look like ferribushmakinite?+
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Find ferribushmakinite on the map
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