Playfairite is a rare lead-antimony sulfosalt typically found as delicate, acicular, or lath-like metallic gray crystals. It is most notable for its occurrences in the Madoc area of Ontario, where it forms in hydrothermal environments. Collectors seek it for its structural complexity and rarity in the sulfosalt mineral group.
Is this playfairite?
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 playfairite with a known reference. Playfairite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Playfairite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Playfairite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, steel-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular to lath-like crystals, often in radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Playfairite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside playfairite
Minerals reported to co-occur with playfairite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₆Sb₁₈S₄₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular to Lath-like Crystals, Often in Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Carbonate Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find playfairite
Classic worldwide localities
- Madoc, Ontario, Canada
- Hemlo, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in carbonate rocks country — that is the host setting where playfairite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular to lath-like crystals, often in radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find playfairite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
