Jeanbandyite is a very rare member of the stannite group that forms as a secondary mineral in tin deposits. Collectors typically search for its characteristic resinous, yellow to brown tabular crystals often found associated with other tin minerals like cassiterite.
Is this jeanbandyite?
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 jeanbandyite with a known reference. Jeanbandyite sits at Mohs ~3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow-brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown orange, red brown, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: crystalline, pseudo octohedral, striated.
Often confused with
Jeanbandyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Stottite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. ~3.5); streak differs, so Jeanbandyite leaves yellow-brown, Stottite leaves grayish white; luster reads vitreous to subadamantine on Jeanbandyite and resinous to adamantine, greasy on cleavages on Stottite.
How to tell apart: Souzalite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. ~3.5); streak differs, so Jeanbandyite leaves yellow-brown, Souzalite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside jeanbandyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jeanbandyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeSn(OH)₅O
- Mohs hardness
- ~3.5
- Density
- 3.81 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow-brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, pseudo octohedral, striated
- Cleavage
- {001} and {100}, fair
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxide zone of polymetallic hydrothermal deposits
Where rockhounds find jeanbandyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Llallagua, Bolivia
- Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Mt. Pleasant tin mine, New Brunswick, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxide zone of polymetallic hydrothermal deposits. If you start seeing wickmanite, fluorapatite, stannite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, pseudo octohedral, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find jeanbandyite on the map
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