Laitakarite is a rare bismuth selenide sulfide mineral typically found in hydrothermal vein deposits. It is best identified by its metallic, lead-gray color and perfect basal cleavage, often appearing as small lamellar or tabular crystals.
Is this laitakarite?
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 laitakarite with a known reference. Laitakarite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, lead white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: lamellar or tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Laitakarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside laitakarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with laitakarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₄Se₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 8.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Lead grayLead white
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Lamellar or tabular crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- {001}, excellent
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In veinlets in quartz-anthophyllite-cordierite-biotite rocks (Orijärvi mine, Finland)
Where rockhounds find laitakarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Southwestern Finland, from the Orijärvi mine, Orijärvi (type locality)
- Falun, Kopparberg, and Boliden, Skellefte district, Sweden
- La Creusaz, Valais, Switzerland
- Bonser vein, Coniston mines, Cumbria, England
- Khayragatsch gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- Nevsky W–Sn deposit, 25 km northwest of Omsukchan, Magadan region, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In veinlets in quartz-anthophyllite-cordierite-biotite rocks (Orijärvi mine, Finland). If you start seeing chalcopyrite, bismuth, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lamellar or tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify laitakarite?+
Where is laitakarite found?+
Is laitakarite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like laitakarite?+
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Find laitakarite on the map
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