Huebnerite is a manganese-rich member of the wolframite group, prized by collectors for its sharp, bladed reddish-brown crystals. It is best identified by its high density, submetallic luster, and characteristic perfect cleavage. It is typically found in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins associated with granitic intrusions.
Is this huebnerite?
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 huebnerite with a known reference. Huebnerite sits at Mohs 4-4.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Huebnerite leaves a yellowish to reddish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Huebnerite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-brown, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: bladed, tabular, prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Huebnerite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside huebnerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with huebnerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnWO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 7.1-7.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish to Reddish-brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed, Tabular, Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Tungsten
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Quartz Veins in Granite
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail, $200-800 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find huebnerite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Silverton, Colorado, USA
- Pastocasa, Bolivia
- Kara-Oba, Kazakhstan
- Panasqueira, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal quartz veins in granite country — that is the host setting where huebnerite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, fluorite, cassiterite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a bladed, tabular, prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Mexico — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify huebnerite?+
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Find huebnerite on the map
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