Mineralpedia Details for Boulangerite

Named for Charles Louis Boulanger, the French mining engineer who was the first to call the species to attention. Boulangerite is relatively common and widespread, and can be found in medium to high-temperature hydrothermal veins. Some of the many localities include in France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, the Czech Republic, the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Minerals associated with Boulangerite include lead sulfosalts, galena, stibnite, sphalerite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, siderite, and quartz. Sometimes easily confused with jamesonite.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/boulangerite.pdf

Formula

Pb₅Sb₄S₁₁ 

Crystal System

Orthorhombic 

Crystal Habit

Acicular, Massive - Fibrous, Plumose 

Cleavage

Indistinct, Indistinct, None 

Luster

Metallic 

Color

lead gray, blue gray, gray 

Streak

reddish brown 

Class

Orthorhombic 

Fracture

Brittle 

Hardness

2.5 

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Mindat

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Boulangerite specimen with abundant coverage of silvery, acicular Boulangerite crystals covering matrix associated with Pyrite

Grey acicular mat of Boulangerite.

Special Info

Phillips Collection

This piece contains abundant filliform, silvery crystals of Boulangerite to 1cm strung throughout Quartz matrix.

Solid mass of compact Boulangerite ore composed of needle-like crystals in tight divergent groups.

Nice miniature with a nest of Boulangerite crystals covering the face in a 3.5 x 3cm area. Also shows some Chalcopyrite crystals to 6mm and Siderite or Dolomite in association.

Steely gray needles of Boulangerite in bunches to 1cm.

Rich coverage of steely acicular crystals.

Special Info

XRD Confirmed,EDS Confirmed

Rich specimen of silvery metallic and compact crystals of Boulangerite. Very rare for the Black Hills. EDS/XRD

Compact divergent crystals to 3cm. 

Filliform crystals of Boulangerite with good coverage.