Zoubekite is a very rare lead-silver antimony sulfosalt found primarily in lead-zinc deposits. It is typically found as small, lead-gray granular masses or intergrown with other sulfide minerals in hydrothermal vein systems.
Is this zoubekite?
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 zoubekite with a known reference. Zoubekite 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: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: lath, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Zoubekite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zoubekite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zoubekite leaves black, Bournonite leaves steel-gray to iron-black; luster reads metallic on Zoubekite and brilliant to dull on Bournonite.
Often found alongside zoubekite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zoubekite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgPb₄Sb₄S₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 5.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Lath, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find zoubekite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pribram, Czechoslovakia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing boulangerite, galena, diaphorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lath, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find zoubekite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
