Housleyite is a rare lead-copper tellurite mineral discovered in the oxidized zones of ore deposits. It is best identified as microscopic, transparent to translucent yellow tabular crystals or thin plates often associated with other rare tellurite minerals.
Is this housleyite?
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 housleyite with a known reference. Housleyite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Housleyite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Housleyite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, thin plates.
Often confused with
Housleyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Housleyite leaves pale yellow, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Housleyite and resinous on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3); luster reads adamantine on Housleyite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
Often found alongside housleyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with housleyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₆Cu₂Te₄O₁₇
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.5-6.7 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Tellurium-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find housleyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tombstone District, Arizona, USA
- Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized tellurium-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where housleyite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, quetzalcoatlite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find housleyite on the map
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