Teallite is a rare lead-tin sulfide mineral that typically forms as soft, flexible, gray-black platy crystals. It is most frequently found in hydrothermal vein deposits alongside other complex tin-bearing minerals like franckeite and cylindrite. Collectors value it for its metallic luster and its association with the unique mineral assemblages of the Bolivian tin-silver belt.
Is this teallite?
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 teallite with a known reference. Teallite sits at Mohs 1.5, 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: lead gray, grayish black, iron gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: micaceous.
Often confused with
Teallite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Galena is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5-2.75 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Teallite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Franckeite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5-3 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Teallite leaves black, Franckeite leaves grayish black.
How to tell apart: Cylindrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5 vs. 1.5).
Often found alongside teallite
Minerals reported to co-occur with teallite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbSnS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 6.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Micaceous
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A hydrothermal mineral in tin veins; may be an important ore mineral
Where rockhounds find teallite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ivigtut cryolite deposit, southwestern Greenland
- Radvanice, near Trutnov, Czech Republic
- Sinantscha, Sichota-Alin, and Smirnowsk, Transbaikal, Russia
- Wallah Wallah mine, Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
- Toyoha mine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Changpo deposit, Dachang district, Guangxi Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A hydrothermal mineral in tin veins; may be an important ore mineral. If you start seeing cassiterite, stannite, franckeite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: micaceous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find teallite on the map
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