Plumbojarosite is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of ore deposits rich in lead and iron. It typically appears as yellowish-brown earthy or microcrystalline crusts and is highly sought after by collectors of secondary lead minerals.
Is this plumbojarosite?
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 plumbojarosite with a known reference. Plumbojarosite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, silky to dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowish brown, dark brown, golden brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: concretionary, tabular.
Often confused with
Plumbojarosite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous, silky to dull on Plumbojarosite and subadamantine to vitreous, resinous on fractures on Jarosite.
How to tell apart: Limonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Plumbojarosite leaves pale brown, Limonite leaves yellowish-brown; luster reads vitreous, silky to dull on Plumbojarosite and submetallic to earthy on Limonite.
How to tell apart: Goethite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Plumbojarosite leaves pale brown, Goethite leaves brownish yellow, yellow-orange, ocher-yellow; luster reads vitreous, silky to dull on Plumbojarosite and imperfect adamantine metallic to dull earthy; silky when fibrous on Goethite.
Often found alongside plumbojarosite
Minerals reported to co-occur with plumbojarosite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbFe₆(SO₄)₄(OH)₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.64-3.67 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale brown
- Luster
- Vitreous, silky to dull
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Concretionary, tabular
- Cleavage
- On {1014}, fair
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed by the reaction between galena and oxidizing pyrite in lead deposits, typically in arid regions
Where rockhounds find plumbojarosite
Classic worldwide localities
- Boss, Kirby, Yellow Pine, and other mines, Goodsprings district, Clark Co., Nevada, USA
- Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Leadville, Lake Co., Colorado, USA
- Darwin district, Inyo Co., California, USA
- Treore mine, St. Teath, the Penberthy Croft mine, St. Hilary, and Wheal Carpenter, Gwinear, Cornwall, England
- Laurium, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed by the reaction between galena and oxidizing pyrite in lead deposits, typically in arid regions. If you start seeing jarosite, anglesite, limonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: concretionary, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find plumbojarosite on the map
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