Wayneburnhamite is a rare lead calcium silicate known almost exclusively from the Ojuela Mine. It typically forms thin, sky-blue tabular crystals occurring alongside other secondary lead minerals in oxidized ore zones.
Is this wayneburnhamite?
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 wayneburnhamite with a known reference. Wayneburnhamite 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: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sky-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Wayneburnhamite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to resinous on Wayneburnhamite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to resinous on Wayneburnhamite and resinous to adamantine, pearly on {001} on Leadhillite.
Often found alongside wayneburnhamite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wayneburnhamite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₉Ca₆(Si₂O₇)₃(SiO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.271 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As a metasomatic mineral on fracture surfaces in vesuvianite/wollastonite rock
Where rockhounds find wayneburnhamite
Classic worldwide localities
- Commercial quarry, Crestmore, Sky Blue Hill, Riverside County, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As a metasomatic mineral on fracture surfaces in vesuvianite/wollastonite rock. If you start seeing whelanite, cerussite, nasonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wayneburnhamite on the map
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