Kintoreite is a rare lead-iron phosphate member of the alunite supergroup typically found as secondary crusts or botryoidal coatings in oxidized lead mines. It is visually indistinguishable from related plumbogummite group minerals without chemical analysis and is most prized by mineral collectors for its presence in classic oxidation zones.
Is this kintoreite?
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 kintoreite with a known reference. Kintoreite 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. Kintoreite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kintoreite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish yellow, olive green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, or earthy masses.
Often confused with
Kintoreite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads dull on Kintoreite and greasy on Plumbogummite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kintoreite leaves white, Corkite leaves yellow; luster reads dull on Kintoreite and vitreous on Corkite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kintoreite leaves white, Beudantite leaves yellow; luster reads dull on Kintoreite and vitreous on Beudantite.
Often found alongside kintoreite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kintoreite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbFe₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₅·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.6-4.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Crusts, Or Earthy Masses
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find kintoreite
Classic worldwide localities
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Guanajuato, Mexico
- Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where kintoreite typically forms. If you start seeing cerussite, pyromorphite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, crusts, or earthy masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kintoreite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
