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 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish yellow, sulfur yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. 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: Streak differs, so Perite leaves yellow, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Perite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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
- PbBiO₂Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 8.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, thin plates
- Cleavage
- {001}, fair
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In fissures in skarn in a metamorphosed Fe–Mn deposit (Långban, Sweden); in oxidized bismuth-bearing base metal deposits
Where rockhounds find perite
Classic worldwide localities
- Blue Bell claims, near Baker, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
- A prospect about 13 km northeast of Benson, Cochise Co., and in the US Mine, near Wickenburg, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA
- A prospect on the west side of Cucomungo Wash, Tule Canyon district, Esmeralda Co., Nevada, USA
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Laurium, Greece, in slag
- Glen Florrie Station, 1000 km north of Perth, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In fissures in skarn in a metamorphosed Fe–Mn deposit (Långban, Sweden); in oxidized bismuth-bearing base metal deposits. If you start seeing hausmannite, calcite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, thin plates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify perite?+
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Is perite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like perite?+
What minerals are found with perite?+
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Find perite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
