Native tin is an extremely rare element in nature, typically found as small, dull, silver-white grains in alluvial deposits. Collectors should look for heavy, soft metallic fragments that exhibit a bright luster on fresh surfaces, though they are prone to rapid tarnishing in air.
Is this native tin?
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 native tin with a known reference. Native Tin sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Tin leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Tin typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silvery-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: rarely found as crystals, usually occurring as small grains, flakes, or rounded nuggets in placer deposits.
Often confused with
Native Tin vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native tin
Minerals reported to co-occur with native tin. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sn
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 7.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Rarely Found as Crystals, Usually Occurring as Small Grains, Flakes, Or Rounded Nuggets in Placer Deposits
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Placer Deposits, Occasionally in Igneous or Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and rarity
Where rockhounds find native tin
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia
- USA
- Czech Republic
- Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in placer deposits, occasionally in igneous or metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where native tin typically forms. If you start seeing cassiterite, gold, platinum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a rarely found as crystals, usually occurring as small grains, flakes, or rounded nuggets in placer deposits habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native tin on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
