Perite is a rare lead-bismuth oxychloride mineral typically found as small, thin, yellow to brownish-orange plates. It is primarily known from the Långban mines in Sweden, where it occurs within metamorphosed ore bodies. Due to its lead content and scarcity, it is a highly sought-after species for mineralogists and advanced collectors.
Is this perite?
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 perite with a known reference. Perite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Perite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Perite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, thin plates.
Often confused with
Perite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Wulfenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs — Perite leaves yellow, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Perite and resinous on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Perite leaves yellow, Phosgenite leaves white.
Often found alongside perite
Minerals reported to co-occur with perite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₃BiO₂Cl₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 8.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Iron-manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find perite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Kintore Open Cut, Australia
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed iron-manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where perite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, bismuthinite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find perite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
