Famatinite is a rare copper antimony sulfide often found as a massive or granular mineral in hydrothermal deposits. It is easily confused with its dimorph enargite, typically distinguished by a slightly redder metallic luster and distinct copper-red tint in reflected light.
Is this famatinite?
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 famatinite with a known reference. Famatinite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Famatinite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Famatinite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: copper-red, reddish-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or crusts.
Often confused with
Famatinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside famatinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with famatinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃SbS₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Crusts
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {112}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Copper
- Host rock
- Epithermal Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find famatinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sierra de Famatina, Argentina
- Chuquicamata, Chile
- Lepanto mine, Philippines
- Bor, Serbia
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where famatinite typically forms. If you start seeing enargite, pyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find famatinite on the map
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