Chabournéite is a rare thallium-arsenic sulfosalt primarily known from the Allchar mine in North Macedonia. It typically appears as small, dark grey to black metallic grains or crystals associated with other rare thallium minerals in hydrothermal veins.
Is this chabournéite?
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 chabournéite with a known reference. Chabournéite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Chabournéite leaves a red-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chabournéite typically shows a submetallic to greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular to prismatic crystals, often as irregular masses.
Often confused with
Chabournéite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chabournéite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Chabournéite leaves red-brown, Realgar leaves orange-red; luster reads submetallic to greasy on Chabournéite and resinous on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Chabournéite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Chabournéite leaves red-brown, Orpiment leaves yellow; luster reads submetallic to greasy on Chabournéite and resinous on Orpiment.
How to tell apart: Chabournéite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Chabournéite leaves red-brown, Lorándite leaves cherry red; luster reads submetallic to greasy on Chabournéite and metallic to submetallic on Lorándite.
Often found alongside chabournéite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chabournéite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Tl,Pb)₂₁As₁₉Sb₂S₄₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- Red-brown
- Luster
- Submetallic to Greasy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to Prismatic Crystals, Often as Irregular Masses
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Ore Deposits in Dolomitic Limestone
Where rockhounds find chabournéite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jas Roux deposit, Hautes-Alpes, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal ore deposits in dolomitic limestone country, the host setting where chabournéite typically forms. If you start seeing lorandite, realgar, orpiment in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular to prismatic crystals, often as irregular masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chabournéite?+
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Find chabournéite on the map
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