Backite is a rare lead tellurite mineral discovered in the oxidized zones of tellurium-bearing ore deposits. Collectors typically search for its small, pale blue-gray tabular crystals or crusts, usually found alongside other secondary lead and tellurium minerals. It is considered a significant find for advanced mineralogists focusing on rare tellurides.
Is this backite?
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 backite with a known reference. Backite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: very pale bluish gray to white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale blue-gray, dark.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, encrustations.
Often confused with
Backite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Backite leaves very pale bluish gray to white, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Backite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Backite leaves very pale bluish gray to white, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Backite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
Often found alongside backite
Minerals reported to co-occur with backite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂AlTeO₆Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 5.573 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale blue-grayDark
- Streak
- Very pale bluish gray to white
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of rocks containing Ag- and Au-bearing galena and minor amounts of copper and zinc minerals
Where rockhounds find backite
Classic worldwide localities
- Grand Central Mine, Contention-Grand Central mine group, Tombstone District, Tombstone Hills, Cochise County, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of rocks containing Ag- and Au-bearing galena and minor amounts of copper and zinc minerals. If you start seeing schieffelinite, oboyerite, rodalquilarite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find backite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
