Embreyite is a rare lead chromium phosphate mineral that typically forms as bright orange, tabular crystals or crusts. It is primarily found in the oxidation zones of lead-bearing hydrothermal veins where chromium is present. Due to its rarity and specific chemical requirements, it is a highly sought-after specimen for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this embreyite?
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 embreyite with a known reference. Embreyite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Embreyite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Embreyite typically shows a vitreous to resinous to dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, reddish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, botryoidal aggregates.
Often confused with
Embreyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Embreyite leaves yellow, Crocoite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads vitreous to resinous to dull on Embreyite and adamantine on Crocoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Embreyite leaves yellow, Phoenicochroite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads vitreous to resinous to dull on Embreyite and adamantine on Phoenicochroite.
Often found alongside embreyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with embreyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₅(CrO₄)₂(PO₄)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 6.08 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to Resinous to Dull
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Botryoidal Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Lead-chromium Deposits
Where rockhounds find embreyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Berezovskoye deposit, Ural Mountains, Russia
- Callenberg, Saxony, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal lead-chromium deposits country, the host setting where embreyite typically forms. If you start seeing crocoite, phoenicochroite, vauquelinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, botryoidal aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify embreyite?+
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Is embreyite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like embreyite?+
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Find embreyite on the map
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