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, so 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, so Miargyrite leaves cherry-red, Proustite leaves scarlet; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Miargyrite and adamantine on Proustite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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