Plumboagardite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper-lead deposits. It typically forms as small, attractive emerald-green crystalline crusts or distinct, tiny rhombohedral crystals, most famously from the Tsumeb mine.
Is this plumboagardite?
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 plumboagardite with a known reference. Plumboagardite 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: greenish.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: grass green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: aggregates, radial, spherical.
Often confused with
Plumboagardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside plumboagardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with plumboagardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCu₆(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)(OH)₆(H₂O)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.471 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, radial, spherical
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal Pb-Zn vein deposits, the product of alteration of primary Pb, Cu, REE, and As minerals
Where rockhounds find plumboagardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Waste dumps of the Aitern-Süd mine, near Schönau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Miedzianka-Ciechanowice deposits, Rudawy Janowickie Mountains, Lower Silesia, Poland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal Pb-Zn vein deposits, the product of alteration of primary Pb, Cu, REE, and As minerals. If you start seeing fluorite, limonite, chrysocolla in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, radial, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify plumboagardite?+
Where is plumboagardite found?+
Is plumboagardite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like plumboagardite?+
What minerals are found with plumboagardite?+
What kind of rock does plumboagardite form in?+
What is plumboagardite used for?+
Find plumboagardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
