Jamesonite is a lead-iron sulfosalt prized by collectors for its striking fibrous and hair-like crystal habits. It frequently appears as needle-like sprays or matted aggregates known as 'feather ore' in hydrothermal vein deposits. Due to its lead and antimony content, specimens should be handled with care to avoid ingestion or inhalation of fine particles.
Is this jamesonite?
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 jamesonite with a known reference. Jamesonite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Jamesonite leaves a gray-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jamesonite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, lead gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, fibrous, radiating clusters, capillary.
Often confused with
Jamesonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jamesonite leaves gray-black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jamesonite leaves gray-black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jamesonite leaves gray-black, Bournonite leaves steel-gray.
Often found alongside jamesonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jamesonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄FeSb₆S₁₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.6-5.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Gray-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, Fibrous, Radiating Clusters, Capillary
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-150 depending on specimen size and cluster quality
Where rockhounds find jamesonite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Zacatecas, Mexico
- Baia Sprie, Romania
- Treptice, Czech Republic
- Cornwall, England
- Oruro, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where jamesonite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular, fibrous, radiating clusters, capillary habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify jamesonite?+
Where is jamesonite found?+
Can I find jamesonite in the United States?+
How much is jamesonite worth?+
Is jamesonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like jamesonite?+
What minerals are found with jamesonite?+
What kind of rock does jamesonite form in?+
What is jamesonite used for?+
Find jamesonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
