Schwartzembergite is a rare lead-iodine oxychloride mineral typically found in the oxidized zones of arid mining districts in Chile. It usually forms small, deep red, transparent to translucent rhombohedral crystals that are highly sought after by advanced collectors for their distinct adamantine luster and rarity.
Is this schwartzembergite?
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 schwartzembergite with a known reference. Schwartzembergite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: straw-yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow brown, light yellow, reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: crystalline, druse.
Often confused with
Schwartzembergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schwartzembergite leaves straw-yellow, Diaboleite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schwartzembergite leaves straw-yellow, Boleite leaves blue, with greenish tint; luster reads adamantine on Schwartzembergite and weakly vitreous; pearly on cleavage surfaces on Boleite.
Often found alongside schwartzembergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schwartzembergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- H₂Pb₅I³⁺O₆Cl₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 5.7-7.09 g/cm³
- Streak
- Straw-yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, druse
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal polymetallic deposits in an arid climate
Where rockhounds find schwartzembergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cerro Grodo and various other points in northern Chile (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal polymetallic deposits in an arid climate. If you start seeing cerussite, anglesite, paralaurionite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, druse. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schwartzembergite?+
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What rocks look like schwartzembergite?+
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Find schwartzembergite on the map
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