Peretaite is a rare calcium-antimony sulfate mineral named after its type locality in Italy. It typically forms delicate, yellow to colorless tabular crystals or crusts in the oxidation zones of antimony-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this peretaite?
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 peretaite with a known reference. Peretaite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Peretaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Peretaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Peretaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Peretaite and adamantine on Senarmontite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Peretaite and adamantine on Valentinite.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous on Peretaite and dull on Stibiconite.
Often found alongside peretaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with peretaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaSb₄O₈(OH)₆·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Radiating Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Antimony-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find peretaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pereta mine, Tuscany, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in antimony-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where peretaite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, gypsum, valentinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find peretaite on the map
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