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, so 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, so 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, 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.
