Miharaite is a very rare copper-lead-iron telluride mineral that typically occurs in metallic massive or granular forms. It is primarily identified from its type locality in Japan where it is found within complex hydrothermal vein systems alongside other telluride and sulfide minerals.
Is this miharaite?
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 miharaite with a known reference. Miharaite sits at Mohs 4, 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: orthorhombic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Miharaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Miharaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Miharaite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Miharaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Miharaite leaves black, Tetradymite leaves pale steel-gray.
Often found alongside miharaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with miharaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCu₄FeBiS₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.06 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As disseminations in a hedenbergite-garnet-epidote contact metamorphic deposit (Mihara mine, Japan); in a mineralized quartz vein through granite (Imooka mine, Japan)
Where rockhounds find miharaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Okayama Prefecture, from the Honpi deposit, Mihara mine (type locality), and the Imo-oka mine, Japan
- Hyogo Prefecture, in the Akenobe mine, Japan
- Ulsan mine, Kyongsang Province, South Korea
- Hol Kol Au–Cu mine, about 75 km southeast of Pyongyang, Suan Co., North Korea
- Neves-Corvo, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As disseminations in a hedenbergite-garnet-epidote contact metamorphic deposit (Mihara mine, Japan); in a mineralized quartz vein through granite (Imooka mine, Japan). If you start seeing wittichenite, bornite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify miharaite?+
Where is miharaite found?+
Is miharaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like miharaite?+
What minerals are found with miharaite?+
What kind of rock does miharaite form in?+
What is miharaite used for?+
Find miharaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
