Lillianite is a rare sulfosalt mineral typically found as lead-gray, metallic grains or elongated prisms within hydrothermal vein systems. It is most famous for its occurrence in the lead-zinc-silver mines of Colorado, though it is often difficult to identify definitively without chemical analysis due to its similarity to other lead-bismuth sulfosalts.
Is this lillianite?
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 lillianite with a known reference. Lillianite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: crystalline, massive.
Often confused with
Lillianite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lillianite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lillianite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₃Bi₂S₆
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 7.02-7.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, massive
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}; poor on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Geological research
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal deposits of probable high-temperature origin
Where rockhounds find lillianite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found at Twin Lakes, Fresno Co., California, USA
- Yecora, five km west of Iglesia, Sonora, Mexico
- Ivigtut cryolite deposit, southwestern Greenland
- Spokoinoe and Bukuka tungsten deposits, eastern Transbaikal, Russia
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- Jilijärvi, near Orijärvi, Finland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal deposits of probable high-temperature origin. If you start seeing cosalite, cannizzarite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lillianite?+
Where is lillianite found?+
Is lillianite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like lillianite?+
What minerals are found with lillianite?+
What kind of rock does lillianite form in?+
What is lillianite used for?+
Find lillianite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
