Weissite is a rare copper telluride mineral that typically appears as massive, black, metallic inclusions in hydrothermal deposits. It is best identified by its association with other tellurides like rickardite and its characteristic black streak when scratched. Specimens are primarily sourced from specialized telluride-rich mining districts.
Is this weissite?
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 weissite with a known reference. Weissite sits at Mohs 3, 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: shiny metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, bluish black, dark blue black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Weissite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads shiny metallic on Weissite and metallic on Rickardite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Weissite leaves black, Bornite leaves pale grayish black; luster reads shiny metallic on Weissite and metallic on Bornite.
Often found alongside weissite
Minerals reported to co-occur with weissite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂₋ₓTe
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Shiny metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins with other tellurides
Where rockhounds find weissite
Classic worldwide localities
- Good Hope and Mammoth Chimney mines, Vulcan, Gunnison Co., Colorado, USA
- Winston, Sierra Co., New Mexico, USA
- Teine mine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Kalgurli gold mines, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins with other tellurides. If you start seeing pyrite, tellurium, sylvanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify weissite?+
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Find weissite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
