Mineralpedia Details for Jamesonite

Named to honor Robert Jameson, the Scottish mineralogist who was the first to describe the mineral. Jamesonite is a relatively common mineral with numerous localities including in England, Germany, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bolivia, Mexico, the United States, and China, which are all known for rich material. Jamesonite forms as a late stage mineral in lead-silver-zinc veins that formed at low to medium temperatures. Associated minerals include other lead sulfosalts, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite, stibnite, quartz, siderite, calcite, dolomite, and rhodochrosite.

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

Formula

Pb₄FeSb₆S₁₄ 

Crystal System

Monoclinic 

Crystal Habit

Acicular, Radial, Massive - Fibrous 

Cleavage

Perfect, None, None 

Luster

Metallic 

Color

lead gray, steel gray, dark lead gray 

Streak

black. grayish 

Class

Monoclinic - Prismatic 

Fracture

Brittle 

Hardness

2.5 

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Mindat

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Large cabinet specimen with face covered by filliform Jamesonite crystals associated with Pyrite.

Compact silvery fibrous metallic masses in Quartz. 

Tightly compacted acicular crystals of Jamesonite, an ore of lead.

This historic mining district is one of the world's largest concentrations of silver and has produced over 1.18 billion ounces of silver since 1884. Lead, zince, copper, and antimony has also contributed to over $2.89 billion worth of production. The district is located in the panhandle of Idaho and within the Coeur d'Alene Mountains of the the Bitterroot Range. The mines are hosted by the 1.4 BYA Proterozoic Belt Supergroup rocks.

Jamesonite in long, compact fibrous, silvery crystals over 2cm long embedded with light brown Siderite and Quartz. Formerly of the Nick Carruth collection with tag.