Senandorite is a rare sulfosalt mineral primarily known from high-temperature hydrothermal vein deposits in Bolivia. It typically presents as metallic, striated, steel-grey to black crystals often associated with other complex sulfide minerals.
Is this senandorite?
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 senandorite with a known reference. Senandorite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, dark gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, striated, massive.
Often confused with
Senandorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Senandorite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Senandorite leaves black, Bournonite leaves steel-gray to iron-black; luster reads metallic on Senandorite and brilliant to dull on Bournonite.
Often found alongside senandorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with senandorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbAgSb₃S₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Short prismatic crystals, striated, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find senandorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oruro Department, Bolivia
- San Jose Mine, Oruro, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing stannite, siderite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, striated, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find senandorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
