Miargyrite is a rare silver-antimony sulfosalt known for its deep cherry-red streak when powdered, which helps distinguish it from similar-looking sulfosalts. It typically forms as dark, metallic-looking crystals in hydrothermal deposits, often alongside other silver minerals and sulfides.
Is this miargyrite?
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 miargyrite with a known reference. Miargyrite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Miargyrite leaves a cherry-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Miargyrite typically shows a metallic to submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: iron-black, steel-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular, prismatic, or pseudo-rhombohedral crystals, often striated.
Often confused with
Miargyrite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Miargyrite leaves cherry-red, Pyrargyrite leaves red; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Miargyrite and metallic to adamantine on Pyrargyrite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Miargyrite leaves cherry-red, Proustite leaves scarlet; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Miargyrite and adamantine on Proustite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Miargyrite leaves cherry-red, Tetrahedrite leaves black; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Miargyrite and metallic on Tetrahedrite.
Often found alongside miargyrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with miargyrite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgSbS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Cherry-red
- Luster
- Metallic to Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular, Prismatic, Or Pseudo-rhombohedral Crystals, Often Striated
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Reference Specimen
- Host rock
- Low-to-medium Temperature Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail to miniature
Where rockhounds find miargyrite
Classic worldwide localities
- Germany
- Mexico
- Czech Republic
- Bolivia
- Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in low-to-medium temperature hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where miargyrite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular, prismatic, or pseudo-rhombohedral crystals, often striated habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find miargyrite on the map
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