Nealite is an extremely rare lead-arsenic mineral found almost exclusively in the ancient smelting slags of the Laurium district in Greece. It typically forms delicate, needle-like or bladed crystals with a striking orange to yellow hue. Collectors should handle specimens with care due to their lead and arsenic content.
Is this nealite?
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 nealite with a known reference. Nealite 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: light orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, light orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic.
Often confused with
Nealite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Nealite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Nealite leaves light orange, Linarite leaves pale blue; luster reads adamantine on Nealite and vitreous to subadamantine on Linarite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nealite leaves light orange, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Nealite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
Often found alongside nealite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nealite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄Fe(AsO₃)₂Cl₄(H₂O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Lead slags
Where rockhounds find nealite
Classic worldwide localities
- Laurion, Attica, Greece (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Lead slags. If you start seeing laurionite, phosgenite, fiedlerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nealite?+
Where is nealite found?+
Is nealite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like nealite?+
What minerals are found with nealite?+
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What is nealite used for?+
Find nealite on the map
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