Queitite is an uncommon lead zinc silicate-sulfate mineral known almost exclusively from the famous Tsumeb Mine in Namibia. It typically occurs as small, colorless to pale yellow tabular or platy crystals often found in association with other rare secondary minerals in oxidation zones.
Is this queitite?
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 queitite with a known reference. Queitite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular.
Often confused with
Queitite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Queitite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads greasy on Queitite and adamantine, resinous to vitreous on Anglesite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads greasy on Queitite and adamantine, tending toward vitreous, resinous on Cerussite.
Often found alongside queitite
Minerals reported to co-occur with queitite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₂Pb₄(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)(SO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 6.07 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, tabular
- Cleavage
- {010} and {001}, observed in traces
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- On corroded sulfides in a partially oxidized lead ore from a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit (Tsumeb, Namibia)
Where rockhounds find queitite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lucky Cuss mine, Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Red Gill mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
- Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: On corroded sulfides in a partially oxidized lead ore from a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit (Tsumeb, Namibia). If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, tennantite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify queitite?+
Where is queitite found?+
Is queitite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like queitite?+
What minerals are found with queitite?+
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Find queitite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
