Kobellite is a rare sulfosalt mineral found in hydrothermal ore deposits, typically occurring as lead-gray acicular or fibrous crystals. It is chemically complex, often containing varying ratios of bismuth and antimony, and is most prized by mineral collectors for its sharp, needle-like habit.
Is this kobellite?
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 kobellite with a known reference. Kobellite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, 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: lead gray, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous, massive, radial.
Often confused with
Kobellite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kobellite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kobellite leaves black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kobellite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside kobellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kobellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₁(Cu,Fe)₂(Bi,Sb)₁₅S₃₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 6.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, massive, radial
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A high-temperature hydrothermal mineral
Where rockhounds find kobellite
Classic worldwide localities
- Superior stone quarry, Raleigh, Wake Co., North Carolina, USA
- Cofer deposit, near Mineral, Louisa Co., Virginia, USA
- Silver Bell mine, Red Mountain district, Ouray Co., Colorado, USA
- Vena mines, near Askersund, Örebro (type locality), and at Boliden, Västerbotten, Sweden
- Srednegolgotaiskoe gold deposit, Transbaikalia, Siberia, Russia
- Ustarasai bismuth deposit, near Brichmulla village, Pskem Range, south Tien Shan, northeastern Uzbekistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A high-temperature hydrothermal mineral. If you start seeing cobaltite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, massive, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kobellite?+
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Find kobellite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
