Murdochite is an uncommon, dense black mineral that typically occurs as microscopic cubic crystals or crusts in oxidized mineral deposits. Collectors usually look for it in association with secondary copper and lead minerals like wulfenite. It is primarily valued as a rare species for systematic mineral collections.
Is this murdochite?
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 murdochite with a known reference. Murdochite 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: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Murdochite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Murdochite and metallic on Tenorite.
How to tell apart: Hausmannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Murdochite leaves black, Hausmannite leaves dark reddish brown; luster reads adamantine on Murdochite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
Often found alongside murdochite
Minerals reported to co-occur with murdochite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₁₂Pb₂O₁₅Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.9-6.7 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral crystals
- Cleavage
- {111}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In oxidized Pb–Cu deposits
Where rockhounds find murdochite
Classic worldwide localities
- Blanchard and Mex-Tex mines, near Bingham, Hansonburg district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
- Blue Bell claims, near Baker, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
- Ojuela mine, Mapimí, Durango, and at Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Tchah Khuni mine, near Anarak, Iran
- Whim Creek copper mine, Pilbara district, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In oxidized Pb–Cu deposits. If you start seeing wulfenite, fluorite, hemimorphite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: octahedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find murdochite on the map
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