Scainiite is a rare lead-antimony sulfosalt known primarily from the famous Binnental locality in Switzerland. It typically forms delicate, needle-like acicular crystals or radiating sprays that are highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this scainiite?
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 scainiite with a known reference. Scainiite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Scainiite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Scainiite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating sprays, massive.
Often confused with
Scainiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scainiite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scainiite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves gray-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scainiite leaves black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside scainiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with scainiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₄Sb₃₀S₅₈
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Radiating Sprays, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Dolomite Cavities in Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500+ for specimen quality
Where rockhounds find scainiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Binnental, Valais, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Look in dolomite cavities in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where scainiite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, radiating sprays, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify scainiite?+
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How much is scainiite worth?+
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Find scainiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
