Hammarite is a rare lead-bismuth sulfide that typically forms as elongated prismatic or needle-like crystals. It is most easily identified by its metallic lead-gray color and association with other lead-bismuth sulfosalts in hydrothermal sulfide deposits.
Is this hammarite?
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 hammarite with a known reference. Hammarite sits at Mohs 3-4, 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: reddish steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular.
Often confused with
Hammarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hammarite leaves black, Aikinite leaves grayish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hammarite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hammarite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside hammarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hammarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂Pb₂Bi₄S₉
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 6.74 g/cm³
- Colors
- Reddish steel gray
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find hammarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Victoria district, Doña Ana Co., New Mexico, and from the Outlaw mine, Round Mountain district, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- Gladhammar, Kalmar, Sweden (type locality)
- Dzhida Mo–W deposit, and from Inkur, Transbaikal, Russia
- Băiţa (Rézbánya), and from Baia Borşa, Baia Mare (Nagybánya), Romania
- Found in the Loch Shin monzogranite, near Lairg, Scotland
- Avoca River, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing paděraite, pekoite, bismuthinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hammarite?+
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Is hammarite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hammarite?+
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Find hammarite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
