Schieffelinite is a rare lead tellurite mineral discovered in the Tombstone district of Arizona. It typically occurs as delicate, colorless to milky white, foliated, or tabular crystals in the oxidation zones of tellurium-bearing ore deposits.
Is this schieffelinite?
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 schieffelinite with a known reference. Schieffelinite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy, scaly.
Often confused with
Schieffelinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Schieffelinite leaves white, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow; luster reads adamantine on Schieffelinite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
How to tell apart: Quetzalcoatlite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs, so Schieffelinite leaves white, Quetzalcoatlite leaves pale blue, almost white; luster reads adamantine on Schieffelinite and pearly to dull on Quetzalcoatlite.
Often found alongside schieffelinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schieffelinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₀Te₆O₂₀(OH)₁₄(SO₄)·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.98 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy, scaly
- Cleavage
- On {010}, easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized zone of tellurium-bearing hydrothermal precious metal deposits
Where rockhounds find schieffelinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Joe and Grand Central mines, Tombstone, Arizona, USA (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized zone of tellurium-bearing hydrothermal precious metal deposits. If you start seeing rodalquilarite, girdite, bromargyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, scaly. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schieffelinite?+
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What rocks look like schieffelinite?+
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Find schieffelinite on the map
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