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, so 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, so 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, 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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