Antimonselite is a rare antimony selenide mineral that typically forms as soft, metallic-black acicular needles or fibrous masses. It is most easily confused with stibnite, but its specific gravity and elemental composition distinguish it as a distinct species found in hydrothermal vein deposits.
Is this antimonselite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch antimonselite with a known reference. Antimonselite sits at Mohs 3.3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, massive.
Often confused with
Antimonselite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Antimonselite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3 vs. 2); streak differs, so Antimonselite leaves black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Antimonselite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.3 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Antimonselite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside antimonselite
Minerals reported to co-occur with antimonselite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb₂Se₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.3
- Density
- 5.969 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, fibrous, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect in one direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In uraniferous calcite veins in a hydrothermal U–Hg–Mo polymetallic deposit (near Kaiyan, China)
Where rockhounds find antimonselite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaiyang, Guizhou Prov., China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In uraniferous calcite veins in a hydrothermal U–Hg–Mo polymetallic deposit (near Kaiyan, China). If you start seeing pyrite, sphalerite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find antimonselite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
