Iranite is a rare lead copper chromate silicate mineral known primarily from its type locality in Iran. It typically forms attractive orange-to-yellow tabular crystal aggregates in the oxidized zones of base metal deposits.
Is this iranite?
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 iranite with a known reference. Iranite 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. Streak: saffron-yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish yellow, yellow, honey brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Iranite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Iranite leaves saffron-yellow, Phoenicochroite leaves brick-red to yellowish orange; luster reads resinous on Iranite and adamantine to resinous, glistening on Phoenicochroite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Iranite leaves saffron-yellow, Wulfenite leaves white.
Often found alongside iranite
Minerals reported to co-occur with iranite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₀Cu(CrO₄)₆(SiO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 5.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Saffron-yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized portions of lead-bearing hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find iranite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona, and the Bozo #1 mine, Skull Creek, Moffat Co., Colorado, USA
- Sébarz and Tchah Khuni mines, Anarak district, Iran
- Seh-Changi mine, near Neyband, Khorassan, Iran
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized portions of lead-bearing hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing dioptase, fornacite, wulfenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify iranite?+
Where is iranite found?+
Is iranite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like iranite?+
What minerals are found with iranite?+
What kind of rock does iranite form in?+
What is iranite used for?+
Find iranite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
