Marcobaldiite is a rare lead-antimony sulfosalt known primarily from its type locality in the Apuan Alps of Italy. It typically forms as dark, lead-grey metallic tabular crystals found within hydrothermal vein deposits.
Is this marcobaldiite?
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 marcobaldiite with a known reference. Marcobaldiite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Marcobaldiite leaves a grey-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Marcobaldiite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, lead gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Marcobaldiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Marcobaldiite leaves grey-black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Marcobaldiite leaves grey-black, Jamesonite leaves gray-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Marcobaldiite leaves grey-black, Bournonite leaves steel-gray.
Often found alongside marcobaldiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with marcobaldiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄(Sb,As)₆S₁₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grey-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find marcobaldiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Buca della Vena mine, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where marcobaldiite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, pyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find marcobaldiite on the map
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