Friedrichite is a rare lead-copper-bismuth sulfosalt that often occurs as elongated, hair-like acicular crystals or fine-grained masses. It is primarily found in hydrothermal polymetallic deposits associated with other bismuth minerals and sulfides.
Is this friedrichite?
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 friedrichite with a known reference. Friedrichite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates, massive.
Often confused with
Friedrichite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside friedrichite
Minerals reported to co-occur with friedrichite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₅Cu₅Bi₇S₁₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.98 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As aggregates of granular crystals, in boulders of vein quartz which occur in the scree of a landslip (Salzburg, Austria); in magnesian and calcic skarn deposits (Apuseni Mountains, Romania)
Where rockhounds find friedrichite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fremont mine, Apache Hills, east of Hachita, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Panguitch, Garfield Co., Utah, USA
- Northeast flank of the Johnny Lyon Hills, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Silver Bismuth claim, near the Outlaw mine, Round Mountain district, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- Antoniu, Blidar, and Secundar deposits, Apuseni Mountains, Băiţa (Rézbánya), and in the Baia Borşa area, Baia Mare (Nagybánya), Romania
- Les Houches, Haute-Savoie, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As aggregates of granular crystals, in boulders of vein quartz which occur in the scree of a landslip (Salzburg, Austria); in magnesian and calcic skarn deposits (Apuseni Mountains, Romania). If you start seeing chalcopyrite, covellite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify friedrichite?+
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Find friedrichite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
