Proudite is a rare copper-lead-bismuth sulfosalt that typically occurs as slender, acicular crystals or fibrous aggregates. It is most commonly found in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins associated with other bismuth-bearing minerals.
Is this proudite?
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 proudite with a known reference. Proudite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, 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: silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, lath.
Often confused with
Proudite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Proudite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Proudite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Proudite leaves black, Aikinite leaves grayish black.
Often found alongside proudite
Minerals reported to co-occur with proudite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂Pb₁₆Bi₂₀(S,Se)₄₇
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 7.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, aggregates, lath
- Cleavage
- One good cleavage parallel to grain elongation, a second at an apparent angle of 40° to the first
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- With large, presumably hydrothermal magnetite bodies (Juno mine, Australia)
Where rockhounds find proudite
Classic worldwide localities
- Juno mine, Tennant Creek, Northern Territory (type locality), Australia
- Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: With large, presumably hydrothermal magnetite bodies (Juno mine, Australia). If you start seeing gold, junoite, selenian heyrovskýite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, lath. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find proudite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
