Identification guide · Phosphate Minerals
How to Identify Pyromorphite
Pyromorphite is usually green, yellow-green, and yellow with a resinous luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.75. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Mimetite, Wulfenite, and Phlogopite; the tests below separate them.
Pyromorphite identification checklist
| Color | Green, Yellow-green, Yellow, Brown, Orange | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Resinous | Compare a fresh surface with glass and metal; this luster is softer than either. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 3.75 | A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Poor | |
| Fracture | Subconchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 7 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 7). |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal |
Pyromorphite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 3.75, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Pyromorphite vs Mimetite →
Both sit near Mohs 3.75, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Pyromorphite vs Wulfenite →
Pyromorphite is harder (Mohs 3.75) than Phlogopite (Mohs 2.75), so Pyromorphite will scratch Phlogopite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Pyromorphite vs Phlogopite →
Both sit near Mohs 3.75, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Pyromorphite vs Vanadinite →
Field tips
- Look for bright green to yellow-green barrel-shaped hexagonal crystals in colorful crusts.
- Pyromorphite feels heavy for its size because of its high lead content and has a resinous luster.
- It occurs in oxidized lead deposits with cerussite and galena, which helps confirm identification.
Pyromorphite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Pyromorphite?
Check the color (green, yellow-green, yellow, and brown), the resinous luster, a Mohs hardness of 3.75 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Pyromorphite?
Pyromorphite has a Mohs hardness of 3.75. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not.
What is the difference between Pyromorphite and Mimetite?
Pyromorphite (Mohs 3.75, resinous luster) and Mimetite (Mohs 3.75, resinous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Pyromorphite vs Mimetite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Pyromorphite worth anything?
Entry-level Pyromorphite specimens sell for around $15, typical collector pieces about $90, and premium examples $600 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Pyromorphite?
Pyromorphite is most often green, yellow-green, yellow, and brown. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
