Freieslebenite is a rare silver-lead sulfosalt often found in hydrothermal ore veins. It typically forms characteristic striated prismatic crystals that exhibit a distinct lead-gray metallic luster.
Is this freieslebenite?
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 freieslebenite with a known reference. Freieslebenite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale steel-gray to silver-white or lead-gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, silver white, blackish lead gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, striated, sometimes complex or twinned crystals.
Often confused with
Freieslebenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Freieslebenite leaves pale steel-gray to silver-white or lead-gray, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Freieslebenite leaves pale steel-gray to silver-white or lead-gray, Bournonite leaves steel-gray to iron-black; luster reads metallic on Freieslebenite and brilliant to dull on Bournonite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Freieslebenite leaves pale steel-gray to silver-white or lead-gray, Stephanite leaves iron-black.
Often found alongside freieslebenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with freieslebenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgPbSbS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 6.20-6.23 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale steel-gray to silver-white or lead-gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, striated, sometimes complex or twinned crystals
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Rare mineral species
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find freieslebenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Eagle mine, Gilman district, Eagle Co., Colorado, and the Castle Dome Mountains, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
- Saxony, from the Himmelsfürst mine, Erbisdorf (type locality) and Braünsdorf, both near Freiberg, and at Marienberg, Germany
- Příbram, Czech Republic
- Hiendelaencina, Guadalajara Province, Spain
- Les Farges mine, near Ussel, Corrèze, France
- Pontgibaud, Puy-de-Dôme, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing acanthite, pyrargyrite, silver in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, striated, sometimes complex or twinned crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify freieslebenite?+
Where is freieslebenite found?+
Is freieslebenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like freieslebenite?+
What minerals are found with freieslebenite?+
What kind of rock does freieslebenite form in?+
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Find freieslebenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
