Heyite is a very rare lead chromate-vanadate mineral typically found in oxidized zones of lead-rich hydrothermal deposits. It is best identified by its vibrant yellow, tabular, or acicular crystal habit and association with other lead minerals like crocoite.
Is this heyite?
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 heyite with a known reference. Heyite 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: amber-yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular to acicular crystals, often as radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Heyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Heyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Heyite leaves amber-yellow, Crocoite leaves yellow-orange; luster reads vitreous on Heyite and adamantine on Crocoite.
How to tell apart: Heyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Heyite leaves amber-yellow, Vauquelinite leaves greenish to brownish; luster reads vitreous on Heyite and adamantine to resinous on Vauquelinite.
Often found alongside heyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with heyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₅Fe₂O₄(VO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Amber-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to acicular crystals, often as radial aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare secondary mineral in the oxidized portions of a polymetallic sulfide deposit (Betty Jo claim, Nevada, USA); along a fault through a stockwork disseminated gold deposit (Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA)
Where rockhounds find heyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Betty Jo claim, about 13 km southeast of Ely, Nevada district, White Pine Co., in the Gold Quarry mine, near Carlin, Maggie Creek district, Eureka Co., and at the Silver Coin mine, near Valmy, Iron Point district, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
- Kusu vanadium deposit, 85 km south of Kinshasa, Bas-Congo Province, Congo (Bas-Zaire Province, Zaire)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare secondary mineral in the oxidized portions of a polymetallic sulfide deposit (Betty Jo claim, Nevada, USA); along a fault through a stockwork disseminated gold deposit (Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA). If you start seeing tungstenian wulfenite, pyromorphite, mimetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular to acicular crystals, often as radial aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find heyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
