Lenaite is an extremely rare silver-iron sulfide mineral typically found in epithermal gold-silver deposits. Because of its scarcity and small grain size, it is almost exclusively a specimen for advanced micromineral collectors.
Is this lenaite?
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 lenaite with a known reference. Lenaite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, 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: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: cryptocrystalline, granular.
Often confused with
Lenaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lenaite leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish black.
How to tell apart: Lenaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 2-2.5).
How to tell apart: Lenaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 1-1.5).
Often found alongside lenaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lenaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgFeS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Cryptocrystalline, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In goethite pseudomorphs after magnesian siderite, in quartz-siderite veins (Russia); in an epithermal gold-silver telluride vein deposit (Gies deposit, Montana)
Where rockhounds find lenaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA
- Khachakchansky Ag-Pb deposit, near the Lena River, eastern Sakha, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In goethite pseudomorphs after magnesian siderite, in quartz-siderite veins (Russia); in an epithermal gold-silver telluride vein deposit (Gies deposit, Montana). If you start seeing acanthite, stephanite, ag-hg amalgam in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: cryptocrystalline, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lenaite?+
Where is lenaite found?+
Is lenaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like lenaite?+
What minerals are found with lenaite?+
What kind of rock does lenaite form in?+
What is lenaite used for?+
Find lenaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
