Padĕraite is an extremely rare sulfosalt mineral primarily found in hydrothermal veins. It typically presents as metallic, steel-gray grains or small aggregates embedded within other sulfide ores, making it a prized specimen for advanced collectors of complex bismuth-lead minerals.
Is this padĕraite?
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 padĕraite with a known reference. Padĕraite 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: lead gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous, platy.
Often confused with
Padĕraite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Padĕraite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Padĕraite leaves lead gray, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Padĕraite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Padĕraite leaves lead gray, Wittichenite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Padĕraite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Padĕraite leaves lead gray, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside padĕraite
Minerals reported to co-occur with padĕraite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₇(Cu,Ag)₀.₃₃Pb₁.₃₃Bi₁₁.₃₃S₂₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.91 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Lead gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, platy
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Intimately intergrown with other Pb-Bi sulfosalts, particularly, members of the cuprobismutite series and the bismuthinite-aikinite homologous series
Where rockhounds find padĕraite
Classic worldwide localities
- Romania, from Băiţa (Rézbánya) (type locality), and in the Paulus mine, Ocna de Fier (Morávicza, Vaskő)
- Banská Stiavnica (Schemnitz), Slovakia
- Swartberg, northern Cape Province, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Intimately intergrown with other Pb-Bi sulfosalts, particularly, members of the cuprobismutite series and the bismuthinite-aikinite homologous series. If you start seeing hammarite, pekoite, bismuthinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify padĕraite?+
Where is padĕraite found?+
Is padĕraite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like padĕraite?+
What minerals are found with padĕraite?+
What kind of rock does padĕraite form in?+
What is padĕraite used for?+
Find padĕraite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
