Wherryite is an extremely rare lead sulfate-carbonate mineral found almost exclusively in the oxidized zones of lead mines. It typically occurs as delicate, pale green, acicular or fibrous needle-like crystals that can form eye-catching radial sprays.
Is this wherryite?
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 wherryite with a known reference. Wherryite sits at Mohs 2.5, 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 adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light green, yellow green, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, massive.
Often confused with
Wherryite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Wherryite and adamantine, resinous to vitreous on Anglesite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Wherryite and adamantine, tending toward vitreous, resinous on Cerussite.
Often found alongside wherryite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wherryite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₇Cu₂(SO₄)₄(SiO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Found wiith other secondary lead minerals
Where rockhounds find wherryite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mammoth mine, Tiger, Pinal County, Arizona, USA (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Found wiith other secondary lead minerals. If you start seeing cerussite, anglesite, wulfenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wherryite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
