Linarite

Linarite specimens for sale

33 for sale ยท $75โ€“$8,500 USD

109 in the gallery

Linarite is a lead copper sulfate hydroxide mineral. It forms monoclinic crystals that typically display a rich blue color, often in prismatic or tabular habits with a vitreous to resinous luster. Associations include secondary sulfates and sulfide-rich surroundings, and it can occur as well-formed crystals perched on matrix from vein fillings. Notable specimens come from classic localities in North America, Africa, and Europe, where hydrothermal activity has deposited copper, lead, and sulfate minerals in oxidized zones. Collectors prize linarite for its striking blue hue, contrasting with the often white or pale matrix, and for well-defined crystal forms that can be stacked or pooled in clusters.

Formula
PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Rarity
Rare
Stability
Moderately Stable
Collector interest
Very High Interest
Classification notes
Sulfates; Strunz 7.B

Key characteristics

Crystal system
monoclinic
Mohs hardness
2.5
Specific gravity
5.3โ€“5.5
Luster
vitreous, adamantine
Transparency
transparent, translucent
Color
blue
Streak
blue, white
Cleavage
perfect
Fracture
conchoidal, uneven
Crystal habit
prismatic, tabular, acicular, druzy, granular, massive
  • Classic / historic

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Where Linarite is found

Top localities

  1. Blanchard Mine29 specimens
  2. Grand Reef Mine13 specimens
  3. Reward Mine5 specimens
  4. Mex-Tex Mine3 specimens
  5. Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine2 specimens
  6. Roughton Gill Mine2 specimens
  7. Roughton Gill2 specimens
  8. Morocco1 specimen
  9. Bingham1 specimen
  10. Furzehill Mine1 specimen

About Linarite

For collectors, linarite offers visual appeal, rarity, and a connection to historic mining districts. Its limited but steady supply from countries such as the United States and Namibia, among others, makes well-crystallized pieces particularly sought after by enthusiasts who appreciate blue sulfate minerals and the intricacies of secondary mineralization in vein systems.