Hinsdalite is a rare lead aluminum phosphate-sulfate mineral often occurring as small, rhombohedral crystals in weathered ore deposits. It is frequently associated with secondary lead minerals and is primarily sought after by advanced collectors of rare species.
Is this hinsdalite?
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 hinsdalite with a known reference. Hinsdalite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: crystalline, pseudo tetragonal.
Often confused with
Hinsdalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hinsdalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hinsdalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbAl₃(PO₄)(SO₄)(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, pseudo tetragonal
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of polymetallic sulfide deposits
Where rockhounds find hinsdalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Golden Fleece mine, near Lake City, Hinsdale Co., Colorado, USA
- Mineral Park mine, Mohave Co., Arizona, USA
- Daisy Creek prospect, 25 km north of Thompson Falls, Sanders Co., Montana, USA
- Sylvester mine, Zeehan, and the Comet mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Penkiln Burn, 13 km north-northeast of Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of polymetallic sulfide deposits. If you start seeing barite, pyrite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, pseudo tetragonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hinsdalite?+
Where is hinsdalite found?+
Is hinsdalite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hinsdalite?+
What minerals are found with hinsdalite?+
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Find hinsdalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
