Sahlinite is a rare lead arsenate mineral typically found in metamorphosed ore deposits. Collectors identify it by its distinct resinous luster, platy habit, and yellowish-orange hue, usually found in specimens from the Långban mines in Sweden.
Is this sahlinite?
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 sahlinite with a known reference. Sahlinite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light yellow, pale sulfur yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, scaly, thin.
Often confused with
Sahlinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sahlinite leaves light yellow, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Sahlinite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sahlinite leaves light yellow, Chlorophoenicite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Sahlinite and vitreous, silky, pearly on cleavages on Chlorophoenicite.
Often found alongside sahlinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sahlinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₄(AsO₄)₂O₉Cl₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 7.38-8.00 g/cm³
- Colors
- Light yellowPale sulfur yellow
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, scaly, thin
- Cleavage
- On {010}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a metamorphosed Fe-Mn orebody (Långban, Sweden); in layered hausmannite-barite ore (Kombat mine, Namibia)
Where rockhounds find sahlinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Kombat Cu-Pb-Ag mine, 49 km south of Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a metamorphosed Fe-Mn orebody (Långban, Sweden); in layered hausmannite-barite ore (Kombat mine, Namibia). If you start seeing hausmannite, manganhumite, forsterite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, scaly, thin. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sahlinite?+
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Is sahlinite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like sahlinite?+
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Find sahlinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
