Hibbingite is a rare iron hydroxychloride mineral typically found in altered mafic rocks, often occurring in association with magnetite and goethite. Collectors identify it by its distinct tabular habit and characteristic reddish-brown color, which can deepen to black in massive samples.
Is this hibbingite?
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 hibbingite with a known reference. Hibbingite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hibbingite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hibbingite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, reddish brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Hibbingite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hibbingite leaves yellowish brown, Atacamite leaves apple green; luster reads vitreous on Hibbingite and adamantine to vitreous on Atacamite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hibbingite leaves yellowish brown, Paratacamite leaves apple green; luster reads vitreous on Hibbingite and adamantine on Paratacamite.
Often found alongside hibbingite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hibbingite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₂Cl(OH)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Altered Mafic Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find hibbingite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in altered mafic igneous rocks country — that is the host setting where hibbingite typically forms. If you start seeing goethite, magnetite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hibbingite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
