Pilsenite is a rare bismuth telluride mineral that typically appears as lead-gray to silver-white metallic flakes or tabular crystals. It is most frequently found in hydrothermal gold deposits where it is often associated with other tellurides and sulfides. Collectors should note its perfect basal cleavage and distinct metallic luster, which make it look remarkably similar to other members of the tetradymite group.
Is this pilsenite?
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 pilsenite with a known reference. Pilsenite sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray, tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, foliated masses, or disseminated grains.
Often confused with
Pilsenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pilsenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pilsenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₄Te₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 8.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, foliated masses, or disseminated grains
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find pilsenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sylvanite, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico, USA
- Nagybörzsöny, Börzsöny Mountains, near Esztergom (Gran), Hungary (type locality)
- Săcărı̂mb (Nagyág), Romania
- Koronuda Au–Cu deposit, Macedonia
- Bereznyakov gold deposit, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
- Corrego Criminosa gold district, Goias, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing hessite, joséite, bismuthinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, foliated masses, or disseminated grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pilsenite?+
Where is pilsenite found?+
Is pilsenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like pilsenite?+
What minerals are found with pilsenite?+
What kind of rock does pilsenite form in?+
What is pilsenite used for?+
Find pilsenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
