Gupeiite is an extremely rare iron silicide mineral first discovered in the Luobusa ophiolite of Tibet. It typically appears as small metallic grains and is found primarily in ultramafic rocks associated with high-pressure, mantle-derived environments.
Is this gupeiite?
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 gupeiite with a known reference. Gupeiite sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gupeiite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gupeiite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel-gray, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, irregular masses.
Often confused with
Gupeiite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside gupeiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gupeiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₃Si
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 7.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Irregular Masses
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Ophiolitic Peridotites
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small research-grade specimens
Where rockhounds find gupeiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gupei, Hebei Province, China
- Luobusa Ophiolite, Tibet, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in ophiolitic peridotites country — that is the host setting where gupeiite typically forms. If you start seeing xifengite, chromite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, irregular masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gupeiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
