Hocartite is a rare silver-tin sulfide mineral typically found in complex hydrothermal tin deposits. It is opaque with a metallic luster and is almost exclusively identified through laboratory methods like X-ray diffraction due to its visual similarity to more common stannite-group minerals.
Is this hocartite?
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 hocartite with a known reference. Hocartite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Hocartite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hocartite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hocartite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₂SnFeS₄
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 4.77 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, granular aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of relatively high-temperature origin, typically in hydrothrmal tin-bearing deposits
Where rockhounds find hocartite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, and in the Dean mine, southeast of Battle Mountain, Lewis district, Lander Co., Nevada, USA
- Tacama (type locality), Hocaya, Colquechaca, Potosí, and Chocaya, Bolivia
- Pirquitas deposit, Riconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
- Fournial, Cantal, France (type locality)
- Himmelsfürst mine, Erbisdorf, near Freiberg, Saxony, Germany
- Chat-Karagai tin deposit, Tallas Alatan, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of relatively high-temperature origin, typically in hydrothrmal tin-bearing deposits. If you start seeing cassiterite, cylindrite, franckeite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, granular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hocartite?+
Where is hocartite found?+
Is hocartite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hocartite?+
What minerals are found with hocartite?+
What kind of rock does hocartite form in?+
What is hocartite used for?+
Find hocartite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
