Lapieite is an exceptionally rare sulfosalt mineral primarily known from its type locality at the Lapie River in Yukon, Canada. It typically occurs as minute anhedral grains within complex sulfide-rich hydrothermal veins associated with other nickel and copper minerals.
Is this lapieite?
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 lapieite with a known reference. Lapieite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, 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: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Lapieite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lapieite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lapieite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuNiSbS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 4.966 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a highly altered and mineralized glacial erratic (Lapie River, Canada)
Where rockhounds find lapieite
Classic worldwide localities
- Confluence of Glacier Creek and the Lapie River, St. Cyr Ranges, Yukon Territory, Canada (type locality)
- Tyrnyauz deposit, left bank of the Baksan River Valley, northern Caucasus Mountains, Russia
- Grüne gold mine, Schutzbach, 15 km southwest of Siegen, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a highly altered and mineralized glacial erratic (Lapie River, Canada). If you start seeing nickelian pyrite, gersdorffite, polydymite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lapieite?+
Where is lapieite found?+
Is lapieite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like lapieite?+
What minerals are found with lapieite?+
What kind of rock does lapieite form in?+
What is lapieite used for?+
Find lapieite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
