Saddlebackite is a rare lead bismuth telluride, typically gray to black. It occurs as small grains in a lateritic orebody within a greenstone belt. It was first described from the Boddington gold deposit, Saddleback greenstone belt, Western Australia. Positive identification needs polished-section microscopy or X-ray diffraction, since it looks much like other bismuth tellurides.
Is this saddlebackite?
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 saddlebackite with a known reference. Saddlebackite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: aggregates, lamellar.
Often confused with
Saddlebackite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Saddlebackite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Saddlebackite leaves grayish black, Tetradymite leaves pale steel-gray.
How to tell apart: Saddlebackite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Saddlebackite leaves grayish black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside saddlebackite
Minerals reported to co-occur with saddlebackite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Bi₂Te₂S₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 7.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, lamellar
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal Co–Ni veins formed at medium temperature and pressure
Where rockhounds find saddlebackite
Classic worldwide localities
- Quartzburg district, Grant Co., Oregon, USA
- Nordmark, Värmland (type locality), Sweden
- Tunaberg, Södermanland, Sweden
- Schneeberg and Annaberg, Saxony, Germany
- Bieber and Mackenheim, Hesse, Germany
- St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal Co–Ni veins formed at medium temperature and pressure. If you start seeing skutterudite, rammelsbergite, nickeline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, lamellar. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find saddlebackite on the map
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