Huenite is a rare copper tellurite mineral discovered in the oxidized zones of tellurium-rich ore bodies. It typically forms delicate, platy white crystals or crusts that are often overlooked by casual collectors due to their small size and specific locality rarity.
Is this huenite?
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 huenite with a known reference. Huenite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Huenite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Huenite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Huenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Huenite leaves white, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow; luster reads pearly on Huenite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Huenite and adamantine on Tellurite.
Often found alongside huenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with huenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Te₅O₁₂·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Tellurium-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find huenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Moctezuma mine, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized tellurium-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where huenite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, emmonsite, paratellurite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify huenite?+
Where is huenite found?+
How much is huenite worth?+
Is huenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like huenite?+
What minerals are found with huenite?+
What kind of rock does huenite form in?+
What is huenite used for?+
Find huenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
