Paarite is an extremely rare lead-copper-bismuth sulfosalt named after its type locality in the Binn Valley, Switzerland. It typically occurs as small, elongated, striated metallic prisms associated with other rare sulfosalts in dolomite cavities.
Is this paarite?
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 paarite with a known reference. Paarite sits at Mohs 3.3-3.6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic, elongated, striated crystals.
Often confused with
Paarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Paarite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3-3.6 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Paarite leaves grayish black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Paarite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3-3.6 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Paarite leaves grayish black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Paarite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3-3.6 vs. 2-2.5).
Often found alongside paarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₁․₇Pb₁․₇Bi₆․₃S₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.3-3.6
- Density
- 6.948 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, elongated, striated crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0kl}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In quartz veins cutting a metamorphosed (upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies) scheelite deposit
Where rockhounds find paarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Felbertal scheelite deposit, Hohe Tauern, about 10 km south of Mittersill, Salzburg province, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In quartz veins cutting a metamorphosed (upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies) scheelite deposit. If you start seeing gladite-krupkaite, pavonite, makovickyite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, elongated, striated crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify paarite?+
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Find paarite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
