Roshchinite is a rare silver-lead-antimony sulfosalt known primarily from its type locality in Russia. It typically forms microscopic, metallic, black equant crystals in complex hydrothermal sulfide environments, making it a challenging but rewarding find for mineralogists.
Is this roshchinite?
4-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 roshchinite with a known reference. Roshchinite sits at Mohs 2.5-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, silver gray.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic.
Often confused with
Roshchinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside roshchinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with roshchinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ag,Cu)₁₉Pb₁₀Sb₅₁S₉₆
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3.5
- Density
- 5.27 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- All rights reserved
Where rockhounds find roshchinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kvartsitovyye Gorki deposit, Kasakhstan (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: All rights reserved. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify roshchinite?+
Where is roshchinite found?+
Is roshchinite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like roshchinite?+
What minerals are found with roshchinite?+
What kind of rock does roshchinite form in?+
What is roshchinite used for?+
Find roshchinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
