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 — Scainiite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Scainiite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves gray-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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.
