Rebulite is an extremely rare lead-arsenic sulfosalt found almost exclusively at the Allchar deposit in North Macedonia. It typically presents as orange-red prismatic crystals or massive inclusions alongside other arsenic minerals, requiring careful handling due to its toxic chemical composition.
Is this rebulite?
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 rebulite with a known reference. Rebulite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Rebulite leaves a yellow-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rebulite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, massive, or granular.
Often confused with
Rebulite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rebulite leaves yellow-orange, Realgar leaves orange-red; luster reads adamantine on Rebulite and resinous on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rebulite leaves yellow-orange, Orpiment leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine on Rebulite and resinous on Orpiment.
Often found alongside rebulite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rebulite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₅As₈S₁₇
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow-orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Massive, Or Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find rebulite
Classic worldwide localities
- Allchar Mine (North Macedonia)
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mineral deposits country — that is the host setting where rebulite typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, orpiment, dorallcharite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, massive, or granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rebulite on the map
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