Laurelite is a very rare lead fluoride chloride mineral found primarily in the Mendip Hills of England. It is typically identified as small, colorless cubic crystals that form within secondary mineral assemblages in limestone-hosted lead mines.
Is this laurelite?
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 laurelite with a known reference. Laurelite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Laurelite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Laurelite typically shows a silky to subadamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: equant crystals, often found as crusts on matrix.
Often confused with
Laurelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Laurelite leaves white, Chloroxiphite leaves yellowish-green; luster reads silky to subadamantine on Laurelite and resinous on Chloroxiphite.
How to tell apart: Hydrocerussite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); luster reads silky to subadamantine on Laurelite and pearly on Hydrocerussite.
Often found alongside laurelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with laurelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₇F₁₂Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 7.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Silky to Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant Crystals, Often Found as Crusts On Matrix
- Cleavage
- {0001}, Imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Vein Deposits in Carboniferous Limestone
Where rockhounds find laurelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Grand Reef, Laural Canyon, Graham County, Arizona USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal vein deposits in carboniferous limestone country, the host setting where laurelite typically forms. If you start seeing hydrocerussite, chloroxiphite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant crystals, often found as crusts on matrix habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify laurelite?+
Where is laurelite found?+
Is laurelite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like laurelite?+
What minerals are found with laurelite?+
What kind of rock does laurelite form in?+
What is laurelite used for?+
Find laurelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
