Wiklundite is a rare lead-tungsten-arsenic mineral originally discovered in the Långban iron-manganese deposit in Sweden. It typically presents as small, brownish red to dark brown, resinous-lustered tabular crystals associated with other complex manganese and lead oxides.
Is this wiklundite?
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 wiklundite with a known reference. Wiklundite 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. Wiklundite leaves a pale yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wiklundite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish red, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Wiklundite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wiklundite leaves pale yellowish brown, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Wiklundite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wiklundite leaves pale yellowish brown, Vanadinite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Wiklundite and subadamantine on Vanadinite.
Often found alongside wiklundite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wiklundite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂(Mn²⁺,Zn)₃(Fe³⁺,Mn²⁺)₂(Mn²⁺,Mg)₁₉(As³⁺O₃)₂[(Si,As⁵⁺)O₄]₆(OH)₁₈Cl₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Manganese Deposits
Where rockhounds find wiklundite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban mine, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic manganese deposits country, the host setting where wiklundite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, barite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wiklundite?+
Where is wiklundite found?+
Is wiklundite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like wiklundite?+
What minerals are found with wiklundite?+
What kind of rock does wiklundite form in?+
What is wiklundite used for?+
Find wiklundite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
