Native antimony is a brittle, metallic element often found as massive or lamellar aggregates in hydrothermal vein deposits. It is easily identified by its distinct tin-white color and high density, though it is frequently found in association with the sulfide stibnite. Collectors should handle specimens with care due to the toxic nature of the metal.
Is this antimony?
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 antimony with a known reference. Antimony sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin white, light gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, reticulate.
Often confused with
Antimony vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Antimony leaves gray, Arsenic leaves tin-white; luster reads metallic on Antimony and nearly metallic on Arsenic.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Antimony leaves gray, Bismuth leaves pale silver.
How to tell apart: Antimony is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Antimony leaves gray, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside antimony
Minerals reported to co-occur with antimony. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 6.61-6.72 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, reticulate
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}, distinct on {1011}, imperfect on {1014}, indistinct on {1120}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal Sb–Ag veins
Where rockhounds find antimony
6 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- South Riverside, Riverside Co., USA
- Erskine Creek, Kern Co., California, USA
- Příbram, Czech Republic
- St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
- Allemont, Isère, France
- Sarrabus, Sardinia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal Sb–Ag veins. If you start seeing silver, stibnite, allemontite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, reticulate. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Nevada, Arkansas. Start trip planning there.
More antimony photos
Common questions
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Find antimony on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
