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?
4-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.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: bluish metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bluish black.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular.
Often confused with
Scainiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads bluish metallic on Scainiite and metallic, may be silky on Boulangerite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads bluish metallic on Scainiite and metallic on Jamesonite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads bluish metallic on Scainiite and metallic, splendent on cleavage surfaces on Stibnite.
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
- Pb₁₄Sb₃₀S₅₄O₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 5.56 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Bluish metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In late-stage hydrothermal calcite veins that cut Ba-Fe ores
Where rockhounds find scainiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Buca della Vena mine, near Pietrasanta, southern Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In late-stage hydrothermal calcite veins that cut Ba-Fe ores. If you start seeing sphalerite, cinnabar, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find scainiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
