Mushistonite is a rare copper-zinc-tin hydroxide mineral found primarily in its type locality in Tajikistan. It typically occurs as dense, massive to granular aggregates within tin-bearing hydrothermal vein systems.
Is this mushistonite?
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 mushistonite with a known reference. Mushistonite sits at Mohs 4-4.4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale greenish.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish green, malachite green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: earthy, granular.
Often confused with
Mushistonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Mushistonite leaves pale greenish, Stannite leaves blackish; luster reads vitreous on Mushistonite and metallic on Stannite.
How to tell apart: Cassiterite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4-4.4); streak differs, so Mushistonite leaves pale greenish, Cassiterite leaves white, pale brown, pale gray; luster reads vitreous on Mushistonite and adamantine to adamantine metallic, splendent; may be greasy on fractures on Cassiterite.
How to tell apart: Varlamoffite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4-4.4); streak differs, so Mushistonite leaves pale greenish, Varlamoffite leaves light yellow; luster reads vitreous on Mushistonite and waxy on Varlamoffite.
Often found alongside mushistonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mushistonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuSn(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.4
- Density
- 4.04 g/cm³
- Colors
- Brownish greenMalachite green
- Streak
- Pale greenish
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Earthy, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized zone of a tin deposit, replacing stannite (Mushiston deposit, Tajikistan); from a zoned pegmatite (Etta mine, South Dakota, USA)
Where rockhounds find mushistonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Etta mine, near Keystone, Pennington Co., South Dakota, USA
- Mushiston tin deposit, Kaznok Valley, Zeravshan Mountains, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized zone of a tin deposit, replacing stannite (Mushiston deposit, Tajikistan); from a zoned pegmatite (Etta mine, South Dakota, USA). If you start seeing stannite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: earthy, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mushistonite on the map
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