Pingguite is a rare bismuth tellurite mineral discovered in hydrothermal vein deposits. It is most easily identified by its distinctive yellow to greenish-yellow color and adamantine luster, typically found as small crystalline coatings or microscopic tabular crystals associated with native tellurium.
Is this pingguite?
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 pingguite with a known reference. Pingguite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow-green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: columnar, granular.
Often confused with
Pingguite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pingguite leaves pale yellow-green, Bismite leaves gray to yellow; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Pingguite and subadamantine to dull, earthy on Bismite.
How to tell apart: Pingguite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-6 vs. 2); streak differs, so Pingguite leaves pale yellow-green, Tellurite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Pingguite and subadamantine on Tellurite.
Often found alongside pingguite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pingguite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₆Te₂O₁₅
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 8.44 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow-green
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Columnar, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidation zone of a gold deposit
Where rockhounds find pingguite
Classic worldwide localities
- Yangjiava, Pinggu Co., Beijing Municipality, China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidation zone of a gold deposit. If you start seeing malachite, pyromorphite, bismutite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: columnar, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pingguite?+
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Find pingguite on the map
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