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. Antimony leaves a tin-white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Antimony typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin-white, silver-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, lamellar, reniform, rarely rhombohedral crystals.
Often confused with
Antimony vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Antimony leaves tin-white, Arsenic leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Antimony leaves tin-white, Bismuth leaves silver-white.
How to tell apart: Antimony is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Antimony leaves tin-white, 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
- 6.6-6.7 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Tin-white
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Lamellar, Reniform, Rarely Rhombohedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail, $200+ cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find antimony
6 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Sala, Sweden
- Přibram, Czech Republic
- Wolfsberg, Germany
- Kern County, California, USA
- Broken Hill, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where antimony typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, galena, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, lamellar, reniform, rarely rhombohedral crystals habit, so 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.
Common questions
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Find antimony on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
