Mohite is a rare copper tin sulfide, typically gray with a greenish tint. It occurs in hydrothermal origin. Associated minerals include tetrahedrite, famatinite and kuramite. It was first described from Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan.
Is this mohite?
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 mohite with a known reference. Mohite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Mohite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Mohite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.7); streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Berzelianite leaves shining.
How to tell apart: Mohite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 3); streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Umangite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Mohite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Chalcocite leaves blackish lead-gray.
Often found alongside mohite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mohite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂SnS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.86 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find mohite
Classic worldwide localities
- April Fool mine, Delamar district, Lincoln Co., Nevada, USA
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan (type locality)
- Barquilla deposit, Salamanca Province, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing tetrahedrite, famatinite, kuramite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify mohite?+
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What rocks look like mohite?+
What minerals are found with mohite?+
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Find mohite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
