Cetineite is a rare antimony sulfosalt typically found as delicate, vibrant red acicular needles. It is most famous for its occurrence in the antimony mines of Tuscany, where it forms beautiful radiating sprays within cavities of altered host rock.
Is this cetineite?
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 cetineite with a known reference. Cetineite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cetineite leaves a orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cetineite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: acicular or needle-like crystals often in radiating sprays.
Often confused with
Cetineite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Cetineite leaves orange, Kermesite leaves brownish-red.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Cetineite leaves orange, Stibnite leaves lead-gray; luster reads adamantine on Cetineite and metallic on Stibnite.
Often found alongside cetineite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cetineite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₃Sb₄S₆(SbO₃)·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.2-4.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Needle-like Crystals Often in Radiating Sprays
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {10-10}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Antimony-rich Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and matrix
Where rockhounds find cetineite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cetine mine (Tuscany, Italy)
- Pereta mine (Tuscany, Italy)
Field-hunting tip
Look in antimony-rich hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where cetineite typically forms. If you start seeing kermesite, stibnite, senarmontite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or needle-like crystals often in radiating sprays habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cetineite on the map
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