Scotlandite is a rare lead sulfite mineral named after its type locality in Leadhills, Scotland. It typically forms thin, transparent, tabular crystals or crusts within the oxidation zones of lead ore deposits. Due to its solubility and rarity, it is highly prized by collectors of lead-species minerals.
Is this scotlandite?
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 scotlandite with a known reference. Scotlandite 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 to resinous, pearly on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, gray white, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fan shaped, microscopic crystals, prismatic.
Often confused with
Scotlandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside scotlandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with scotlandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbSO₃
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 6.37 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine to resinous, pearly on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fan shaped, microscopic crystals, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}; good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare secondary mineral, formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal lead deposits
Where rockhounds find scotlandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Susanna mine, Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Roughton Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
- Argentolle mine, near Saint-Prix, Saône-et-Loire, France
- Haus Baden mine, near Badenweiler, Black Forest, Germany
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare secondary mineral, formed in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal lead deposits. If you start seeing pyromorphite, anglesite, lanarkite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fan shaped, microscopic crystals, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify scotlandite?+
Where is scotlandite found?+
Is scotlandite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like scotlandite?+
What minerals are found with scotlandite?+
What kind of rock does scotlandite form in?+
What is scotlandite used for?+
Find scotlandite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
