Guide
Bournonite specimens for sale
65 for sale · $90–$35,000 USD
293 in the gallery
Bournonite is a sulfosalt mineral consisting of lead copper antimony sulfide. It forms metallic, often prismatic crystals that can take on a blocky, striated habit with a bright to dull luster. Color ranges from steel gray to dark silvery tones, and it frequently displays characteristic sharp cleavage planes that can create striking stepped faces in well-formed specimens. Some specimens show subtle iridescence or patina on exposed facets, adding to their visual appeal.
- Formula
- PbCuSbS3
- Rarity
- Rare
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- Very High Interest
- Classification notes
- Sulfosalts; lead–copper–antimony sulfide group (PbCuSbS3)
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- orthorhombic
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5–3
- Specific gravity
- 5.7–5.9
- Luster
- metallic
- Transparency
- opaque
- Color
- gray, black
- Streak
- gray, black
- Cleavage
- poor
- Fracture
- subconchoidal, uneven
- Crystal habit
- tabular, prismatic, equant, granular, massive
- Classic / historic
Buy Bournonite specimens
View all 65Where Bournonite is found
Top localities
- Yaogangxian Mine59 specimens
- Herodsfoot Mine55 specimens
- Machacamarca Mine20 specimens
- Baia Sprie7 specimens
- Quiruvilca Mine6 specimens
- Pachapaqui mining district5 specimens
- Georg Mine4 specimens
- Huanzala Mine4 specimens
- Machacamarca mining district4 specimens
- Wolfsberg4 specimens
Guides
All guides
Guide
Bournonite from Yaogangxian Mine, China
Bournonite from Yaogangxian Mine, China: silvery gray, sharply crystallized crystals with twinning; part of a rich hydrothermal assemblage prized by collectors.Read guide
Guide
Bournonite from Herodsfoot Mine, Cornwall, UK
Herodsfoot Mine, Cornwall, UK — classic bournonite with cogwheel twins, dark metallic luster, often on quartz; prized for provenance and sculptural form.Read guideAbout Bournonite
Notable localities include Bolivia, Peru, and Romania, where high-quality crystals have been collected from classic hydrothermal veins and sulfide-rich environments. China and the United Kingdom also yield notable examples, contributing to widespread recognition among mineral collectors. Bournonite crystals are often accompanied by other sulfides, and matrix specimens incorporating contrasting minerals can enhance display value. Collectors prize well-formed, lustrous crystals that reveal the mineral’s characteristic geometry when split along cleavage planes.
For collectors, bournonite offers a combination of structural clarity and mineralogical interest. Its robust crystallography and dramatic cleavage make aesthetically compelling pieces for display, while its associations with classic ore-field parageneses provide geological context that enriches a collection.
