Veenite is a rare lead-antimony sulfosalt that typically occurs in metallic gray, striated tabular crystals. It is primarily found in hydrothermal veins and complex metamorphic deposits, often requiring microscopic verification for positive identification.
Is this veenite?
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 veenite with a known reference. Veenite sits at Mohs 2.5-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Veenite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Veenite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular to acicular crystals, often as striated grains or aggregates.
Often confused with
Veenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Veenite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves gray-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Veenite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Veenite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside veenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with veenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Sb₂S₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 5.9-6.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to Acicular Crystals, Often as Striated Grains or Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins and Metamorphic Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find veenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
- Madoc, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins and metamorphic manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where veenite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular to acicular crystals, often as striated grains or aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find veenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
