Natanite is a rare tin-iron hydroxide mineral that typically occurs as small, sharp, dipyramidal crystals or earthy crusts in tin-bearing veins. It is often found as a secondary mineral resulting from the alteration of stannite, frequently occurring alongside cassiterite. Collectors look for its distinctive yellow-brown color andadamantine luster, though it is usually only available in micro-mounts.
Is this natanite?
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 natanite with a known reference. Natanite sits at Mohs 4.7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: small dipyramidal crystals, crusts, or granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Natanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cassiterite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4.7); streak differs, so Natanite leaves yellow, Cassiterite leaves white, pale brown, pale gray; luster reads vitreous on Natanite and adamantine to adamantine metallic, splendent; may be greasy on fractures on Cassiterite.
How to tell apart: Natanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.7 vs. 4); streak differs, so Natanite leaves yellow, Stannite leaves blackish; luster reads vitreous on Natanite and metallic on Stannite.
Often found alongside natanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with natanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeSn(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4.7
- Density
- 4.035 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Small dipyramidal crystals, crusts, or granular aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed by oxidation of earlier tin sulfides in tin deposits
Where rockhounds find natanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Trudov tin deposit, Sarydzhaz Range, near Inyl’chek, and in the Chat-Karagai tin deposit, Tallas Alatan, Kyrgyzstan
- Mushiston tin deposit, Kaznok Valley, Zeravshan Range, Tajikistan
- Nevskoye W–Sn deposit, 25 km northwest of Omsukchan, Magadan region, Russia
- El Potosi and San Antonio mines, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Llallagua, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed by oxidation of earlier tin sulfides in tin deposits. If you start seeing stannite, vismirnovite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: small dipyramidal crystals, crusts, or granular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify natanite?+
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What rocks look like natanite?+
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Find natanite on the map
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