Pietersite is a brecciated, chatoyant form of silicified rock that exhibits swirling, turbulent patterns of blue, gold, and red. It is structurally a mix of tiger's eye and hawk's eye, often containing embedded crocidolite fibers that give it its signature shimmering 'stormy' appearance when polished.

Hardness

6.5-7

Mohs

Luster

Silky

Streak

White

Transparency

Opaque

mineraluncommonQuartz family

Pietersite

Also: Tempest Stone

Hardness: 6.5-7
Luster: Silky
Streak: White
Transparency: Opaque

Is this pietersite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch pietersite with a known reference. Pietersite sits at Mohs 6.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: silky.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: blue, gold, brown, red, gray.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.

Often confused with

Pietersite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside pietersite

Minerals reported to co-occur with pietersite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: SiO₂
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
Colors: Blue Gold Brown Red Gray
Streak: White
Luster: Silky
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Uncommon
Uses: Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
Host rock: silicified breccia

Where rockhounds find pietersite

Classic worldwide localities

Namibia
China
South Africa

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: silicified breccia. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, limonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify pietersite?+

Mohs hardness is 6.5-7. Luster: silky. The streak is white. Common colors include blue, gold, brown, red.

Where is pietersite found?+

Notable localities include Namibia; China; South Africa.

What rocks look like pietersite?+

Pietersite is most often confused with Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with pietersite?+

Pietersite commonly co-occurs with Quartz, Hematite, Limonite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does pietersite form in?+

Where it forms: silicified breccia. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is pietersite used for?+

Pietersite is used in lapidary, collector, decorative.

Find pietersite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.