Meneghinite is a rare sulfosalt mineral recognized by its distinctively lead-gray to black metallic luster and acicular or fibrous crystal habit. It is typically found in hydrothermal vein systems and is highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors for its complex lead-copper-antimony chemistry.
Is this meneghinite?
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 meneghinite with a known reference. Meneghinite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: shining black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: bright metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, blackish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, massive, prismatic.
Often confused with
Meneghinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Meneghinite leaves shining black, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish; luster reads bright metallic on Meneghinite and metallic on Jamesonite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Meneghinite leaves shining black, Boulangerite leaves brownish; luster reads bright metallic on Meneghinite and metallic, may be silky on Boulangerite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Meneghinite leaves shining black, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads bright metallic on Meneghinite and metallic on Galena.
Often found alongside meneghinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with meneghinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuPb₁₃Sb₇S₂₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Lead grayBlackish gray
- Streak
- Shining black
- Luster
- Bright metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, massive, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect but interrupted on {010}; poor on {001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Reference material
- Host rock
- Uncommon, but widespread in hydrothermal veins, also contact metasomatic, volcanogenic sulfide, Cu–Mo porphyry, and rarely, Kuroko deposits
Where rockhounds find meneghinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kalkar quarry, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., California, USA
- Bottino, about two km east of Seravezza, Tuscany (type locality), Italy
- Shallowford Bridge, near South Molton, Devon, and in the Pengenna mine, St. Kew, the Pentire veins, St. Minver, and the Portquin veins, St. Endellion, Cornwall, England
- Ochsenkopf, near Schwarzenberg, Saxony, Germany
- Goldkronach, in the Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Uncommon, but widespread in hydrothermal veins, also contact metasomatic, volcanogenic sulfide, Cu–Mo porphyry, and rarely, Kuroko deposits. If you start seeing galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, massive, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify meneghinite?+
Where is meneghinite found?+
Is meneghinite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like meneghinite?+
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Find meneghinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
