Molybdenite is the primary ore of molybdenum and is most easily identified by its greasy feel and similarity to graphite. It typically occurs as soft, flexible, silver-gray flakes or hexagonal crystals often embedded in quartz or granite host rocks.
Is this molybdenum?
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 molybdenum with a known reference. Molybdenum sits at Mohs 1-1.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Molybdenum leaves a grayish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Molybdenum typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, foliated masses, or scaly aggregates.
Often confused with
Molybdenum vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside molybdenum
Minerals reported to co-occur with molybdenum. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MoS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1-1.5
- Density
- 4.62-4.73 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Foliated Masses, Or Scaly Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Industrial, Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Contact Metamorphic Deposits, Porphyry Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find molybdenum
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Knaben (Norway)
- Climax (USA)
- Qitaihe (China)
- Azusa (Japan)
- Sør-Varanger (Norway)
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits, porphyry deposits country — that is the host setting where molybdenum typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, fluorite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, foliated masses, or scaly aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify molybdenum?+
Where is molybdenum found?+
Can I find molybdenum in the United States?+
How much is molybdenum worth?+
What rocks look like molybdenum?+
What minerals are found with molybdenum?+
What kind of rock does molybdenum form in?+
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Find molybdenum on the map
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