Huanzalaite is a rare tungsten oxide mineral typically found as delicate, orange to reddish brown acicular crystals or radiating sprays. It is most famous for its occurrences in the Huanzala Mine in Peru, where it forms in hydrothermal ore environments.
Is this huanzalaite?
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 huanzalaite with a known reference. Huanzalaite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Huanzalaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Huanzalaite leaves white, Tungstite leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine to vitreous on Huanzalaite and resinous, pearly on cleavages on Tungstite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Huanzalaite leaves white, Hydrotungstite leaves greenish yellow; luster reads adamantine to vitreous on Huanzalaite and vitreous to dull on Hydrotungstite.
Often found alongside huanzalaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with huanzalaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg(WO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.953 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine to vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, radiating aggregates
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As inclusions in scheelite in the Mg-metasomatized contact skarns of an intrusive granodiorite and quartz porphyry
Where rockhounds find huanzalaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Huanzala mine, Huallanca district, Bolognesi Province, Ancash Department, Peru
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As inclusions in scheelite in the Mg-metasomatized contact skarns of an intrusive granodiorite and quartz porphyry. If you start seeing scheelite, enargite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find huanzalaite on the map
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