Hawleyite is a rare, bright yellow cadmium sulfide mineral that typically occurs as a powdery coating on other minerals like sphalerite. It is chemically identical to greenockite but forms in a cubic crystal system, distinguishing it as a distinct mineral species.
Is this hawleyite?
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 hawleyite with a known reference. Hawleyite sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hawleyite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hawleyite typically shows a earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright yellow, lemon yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: powdery coatings.
Often confused with
Hawleyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hawleyite leaves yellow, Greenockite leaves brick-red to orange-yellow; luster reads earthy on Hawleyite and adamantine to resinous on Greenockite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hawleyite leaves yellow, Sulfur leaves white; luster reads earthy on Hawleyite and resinous on Sulfur.
Often found alongside hawleyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hawleyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CdS
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 4.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Powdery Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find hawleyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Galena Mine, Idaho, USA
- St. Peters Dome, Colorado, USA
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Laurion, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where hawleyite typically forms. If you start seeing sphalerite, galena, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a powdery coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hawleyite on the map
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