Vikingite is a rare sulfosalt mineral primarily identified in hydrothermal environments. It typically forms as delicate, lead-gray acicular or needle-like crystals that often require microscopic examination for positive identification.
Is this vikingite?
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 vikingite with a known reference. Vikingite sits at Mohs 3.5, 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: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: lamellar, microscopic crystals, twinning common.
Often confused with
Vikingite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vikingite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vikingite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₅Pb₈Bi₁₃S₃₀
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 7.19 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Lamellar, microscopic crystals, twinning common
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Associated with cosalite and as lamellae in galena in the gustavite-galena paragenesis (Ivigtut, Greenland)
Where rockhounds find vikingite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gabbs, Gabbs district, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- South Mountain, Owyhee Co., Idaho, USA
- Apache Hills, southeast of Hachita, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Ivigtut cryolite deposit, southwestern Greenland (type locality)
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- La Roche-Balue quarry, west of Nantes, Loire Atlantique, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Associated with cosalite and as lamellae in galena in the gustavite-galena paragenesis (Ivigtut, Greenland). If you start seeing cosalite, galena, gustavite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lamellar, microscopic crystals, twinning common. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vikingite?+
Where is vikingite found?+
Is vikingite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like vikingite?+
What minerals are found with vikingite?+
What kind of rock does vikingite form in?+
What is vikingite used for?+
Find vikingite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
