Neyite is a rare sulfosalt mineral typically occurring as metallic, lead-gray acicular or lath-like crystals. It is highly prized by collectors of rare sulfides and is predominantly found in complex hydrothermal vein systems alongside other lead and copper minerals.
Is this neyite?
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 neyite with a known reference. Neyite 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: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: bright metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, gray blue, yellow blue, silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous aggregates, bladed crystals.
Often confused with
Neyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Neyite leaves gray, Aikinite leaves grayish black; luster reads bright metallic on Neyite and metallic on Aikinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Neyite leaves gray, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads bright metallic on Neyite and metallic on Galena.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Neyite leaves gray, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray; luster reads bright metallic on Neyite and metallic on Bismuthinite.
Often found alongside neyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with neyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₂Cu₆Pb₂₅Bi₂₆S₆₈
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 7.02 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Bright metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or fibrous aggregates, bladed crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In late-forming crosscutting hydrothermal quartz veins in a quartz-molybdenite stockwork (Lime Creek deposit, Canada); in mesozonal synmetamorphic quartz veins (Johnny Lyon Hills, Arizona, USA)
Where rockhounds find neyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Johnny Lyon Hills, north of Benson, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Alaska mine, Poughkeepsie Gulch, San Juan Co., Colorado, USA
- Whiskey Canyon prospect, Lewis district, Lander Co., Nevada, USA
- Patsy Creek, immediately south of the Lime Creek molybdenum deposit, Kitsault, near Alice Arm, British Columbia, Canada (type locality)
- Golconda prospect, Chishawasha, near Harare, Zimbabwe
- Vale das Gatas tungsten mine, near Vila Real, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In late-forming crosscutting hydrothermal quartz veins in a quartz-molybdenite stockwork (Lime Creek deposit, Canada); in mesozonal synmetamorphic quartz veins (Johnny Lyon Hills, Arizona, USA). If you start seeing pyrite, galena, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous aggregates, bladed crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify neyite?+
Where is neyite found?+
Is neyite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like neyite?+
What minerals are found with neyite?+
What kind of rock does neyite form in?+
What is neyite used for?+
Find neyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
