Albertiniite is an extremely rare iron sulfite mineral found primarily in abandoned mine workings where it forms as a secondary mineral product. It typically occurs as small, delicate yellow tabular crystals or crusts that are highly sensitive to moisture and oxidation, requiring careful storage for collectors.

Hardness

2-3

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Albertiniite

Hardness: 2-3
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent

No image

Is this albertiniite?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch albertiniite with a known reference. Albertiniite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
3
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, yellowish.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crystalline crusts.

Often confused with

Albertiniite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside albertiniite

Minerals reported to co-occur with albertiniite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Fe²⁺(SO₃)·3H₂O
Mohs hardness: 2-3
Density: 2.458 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Yellowish
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, crystalline crusts
Cleavage: Perfect on {010}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Coating fractures as an intermediate product of oxidation between iron sulfides (pyrite and arsenopyrite)and sulfates

Where rockhounds find albertiniite

Classic worldwide localities

Miniera Montevecchio, Sardinia, Italy

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Coating fractures as an intermediate product of oxidation between iron sulfides (pyrite and arsenopyrite)and sulfates. If you start seeing stolzite, pyromorphite, hinsdalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crystalline crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify albertiniite?+

Mohs hardness is 2-3. Luster: vitreous. Common colors include colorless, yellowish.

Where is albertiniite found?+

Notable localities include Miniera Montevecchio, Sardinia, Italy.

What rocks look like albertiniite?+

Albertiniite is most often confused with Szomolnokite, Melanterite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with albertiniite?+

Albertiniite commonly co-occurs with Stolzite, Pyromorphite, Hinsdalite, Plumbogummite, Gibbsite, Scheelite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does albertiniite form in?+

Where it forms: Coating fractures as an intermediate product of oxidation between iron sulfides (pyrite and arsenopyrite)and sulfates. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is albertiniite used for?+

Albertiniite is used in collector.

Find albertiniite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.