Junoite is a rare lead-copper-bismuth sulfosalt mineral primarily known from the Juno Mine in Australia. It usually appears as lead-gray metallic grains or tabular crystals associated with other bismuth minerals in hydrothermal vein systems.
Is this junoite?
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 junoite with a known reference. Junoite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Junoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Junoite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Junoite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Junoite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Junoite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Junoite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Junoite leaves black, Tetradymite leaves pale steel-gray.
Often found alongside junoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with junoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₃CuBi₈(S,Se)₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- One good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find junoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Linka mine, Spencer Hot Springs district, Lander Co., Nevada, USA
- Juno mine, Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia (type locality)
- Kidd Creek mine, near Timmins, Ontario, Canada
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- Baoshan mine, Hunan Province, and the Funiushan copper skarn deposit, near Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Felbertal tungsten mine, Salzburg, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing gold, selenian heyrovskýite, krupkaite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find junoite on the map
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