Paulmooreite is a rare lead arsenite mineral found almost exclusively in the famous Långban mines of Sweden. It typically occurs as small, colorless to pale yellow tabular crystals often associated with various manganese minerals. Because it contains both lead and arsenic, it is strictly a specimen for advanced mineral collectors and requires cautious handling.
Is this paulmooreite?
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 paulmooreite with a known reference. Paulmooreite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, light orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Paulmooreite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside paulmooreite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paulmooreite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂As₂O₅
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 6.95 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, radiating aggregates
- Cleavage
- {100}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare secondary mineral in a metamorphosed Fe–Mn orebody (Långban, Sweden)
Where rockhounds find paulmooreite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Laurium, Greece, in slag
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare secondary mineral in a metamorphosed Fe–Mn orebody (Långban, Sweden). If you start seeing hematite, magnetite, andradite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify paulmooreite?+
Where is paulmooreite found?+
Is paulmooreite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like paulmooreite?+
What minerals are found with paulmooreite?+
What kind of rock does paulmooreite form in?+
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Find paulmooreite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
