Santanaite is an extremely rare lead chromate mineral found primarily in the oxidized zones of lead mines. It typically occurs as small, vivid red tabular crystals or crusts associated with other lead-bearing secondary minerals. Due to its rarity and specific chemical requirements for formation, it is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this santanaite?
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 santanaite with a known reference. Santanaite 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. Santanaite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Santanaite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Santanaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Santanaite leaves yellow, Phoenicochroite leaves orange-yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Santanaite leaves yellow, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Santanaite and resinous on Wulfenite.
Often found alongside santanaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with santanaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₁CrO₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Lead-bearing Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find santanaite
Classic worldwide localities
- San Rafael mine, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized lead-bearing ore deposits country — that is the host setting where santanaite typically forms. If you start seeing linarite, galena, anglesite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find santanaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
