Fizélyite is a rare lead-silver sulfosalt typically found as thin, striated prismatic crystals or in massive form. It is most famous for its occurrence in the hydrothermal ore deposits of Romania, where it is often associated with other complex sulfide minerals.
Is this fizélyite?
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 fizélyite with a known reference. Fizélyite 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: dark gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, dark gray, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, striated.
Often confused with
Fizélyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Fizélyite leaves dark gray, Plagionite leaves blackish lead-gray, deep red-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Fizélyite leaves dark gray, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Fizélyite leaves dark gray, Semseyite leaves black.
Often found alongside fizélyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fizélyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₅Pb₁₄Sb₂₁S₄₈
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 5.56 g/cm³
- Streak
- Dark gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, striated
- Cleavage
- {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find fizélyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Morey, Nye Co., and at the Boss mine, Goodsprings district, Clark Co., Nevada, USA
- Herja (Kisbánya), Baia Mare (Nagybánya) district, (type locality) and Băiţa (Rézbánya), Romania
- Gabe-Gottes mine, at Třebsko, south-southwest of Příbram, Czech Republic
- St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
- Les Farges mine, near Ussel, Corrèze, and from Bournac, Montagne Noire, Finistère, France
- Inakuraishi mine, Hokkaido, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing semseyite, galena, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify fizélyite?+
Where is fizélyite found?+
Is fizélyite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like fizélyite?+
What minerals are found with fizélyite?+
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Find fizélyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
