Litharge is the high-temperature tetragonal form of lead monoxide, often appearing as earthy red to orange crusts or powdery coatings. It is an alteration product typically found in the oxidation zones of lead deposits where galena has weathered. Collectors should handle it with care due to its lead content and often friable nature.
Is this litharge?
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 litharge with a known reference. Litharge 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. Litharge leaves a orange-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Litharge typically shows a sub-adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, earthy, or as thin crusts/scales.
Often confused with
Litharge vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Litharge leaves orange-red, Minium leaves orange-yellow; luster reads sub-adamantine on Litharge and dull on Minium.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Litharge leaves orange-red, Massicot leaves yellow to orange; luster reads sub-adamantine on Litharge and resinous to dull on Massicot.
Often found alongside litharge
Minerals reported to co-occur with litharge. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbO
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 9.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange-red
- Luster
- Sub-adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Earthy, Or as Thin Crusts/scales
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Historical Industrial Precursor
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead-bearing Hydrothermal Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-50 per small specimen
Where rockhounds find litharge
Classic worldwide localities
- Germany
- Mexico
- USA
- Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead-bearing hydrothermal ore deposits country — that is the host setting where litharge typically forms. If you start seeing galena, cerussite, minium in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, earthy, or as thin crusts/scales habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find litharge on the map
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