Rucklidgeite is a rare lead-bismuth telluride mineral typically found as small, lead-gray metallic inclusions in gold-bearing hydrothermal veins. It is most easily identified in polished sections under reflected light by its distinct color and lamellar appearance.
Is this rucklidgeite?
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 rucklidgeite with a known reference. Rucklidgeite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: lead-gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: lamellar grains, irregular masses.
Often confused with
Rucklidgeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside rucklidgeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rucklidgeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Pb,Bi)₃Te₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 7.739 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Lead-gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Lamellar grains, irregular masses
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}; “average” on rhombohedron
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find rucklidgeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Campbell mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Hesperus mine, La Plata Co., Colorado, USA
- Olinghouse mine, Olinghouse district, Washoe Co., Nevada, USA
- Kochkar gold deposit, Plast, Southern Ural Mountains (type locality), Russia
- Alekseevskoye mine, Sutam district, Stanovoi Range, southeast Yakutia, Russia
- Mount General’skaya massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing gold, arsenopyrite, boulangerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lamellar grains, irregular masses. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify rucklidgeite?+
Where is rucklidgeite found?+
Is rucklidgeite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like rucklidgeite?+
What minerals are found with rucklidgeite?+
What kind of rock does rucklidgeite form in?+
What is rucklidgeite used for?+
Find rucklidgeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
