Villamanínite is a rare sulfide mineral typically occurring as fine-grained, metallic masses within hydrothermal vein systems. Collectors generally find it in its type locality in Spain, often associated with other copper and nickel sulfides in dolomitic host rocks.
Is this villamanínite?
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 villamanínite with a known reference. Villamanínite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: sooty black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: iron black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, radial, twinning common.
Often confused with
Villamanínite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4.5); streak differs, so Villamanínite leaves sooty black, Pyrite leaves greenish black to brownish black; luster reads dull metallic on Villamanínite and metallic, splendent on Pyrite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Villamanínite leaves sooty black, Linnaeite leaves grayish black; luster reads dull metallic on Villamanínite and metallic, easily tarnished on Linnaeite.
Often found alongside villamanínite
Minerals reported to co-occur with villamanínite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu(S₂)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.4-4.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Sooty black
- Luster
- Dull metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, radial, twinning common
- Cleavage
- Perfect pseudocubic
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As subhedral disseminated grains in black bituminous dolostone; in white coarse-grained recrystallized dolostone; as nodular aggregates in vuggy dolomite veinlets (Providencia mine, Spain)
Where rockhounds find villamanínite
Classic worldwide localities
- Providencia mine, six km east-northeast of Villamanín, Cármenes district, León Province, Spain (type locality)
- Lubin copper mine, near Legnica, Zechstein copper district, Lower Silesia, and at Karniowice, Poland
- Rum Jungle, Alligator River district, Northern Territory, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As subhedral disseminated grains in black bituminous dolostone; in white coarse-grained recrystallized dolostone; as nodular aggregates in vuggy dolomite veinlets (Providencia mine, Spain). If you start seeing pyrite, chalcopyrite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, radial, twinning common. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find villamanínite on the map
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