Pirquitasite is a rare silver-zinc-tin sulfide mineral typically occurring in hydrothermal veins. Collectors look for its dark metallic appearance, though it is often found as microscopic inclusions or fine-grained masses associated with other sulfosalts in tin-bearing deposits.
Is this pirquitasite?
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 pirquitasite with a known reference. Pirquitasite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: irregular grains, twinning common.
Often confused with
Pirquitasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pirquitasite leaves brownish gray, Stannite leaves blackish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pirquitasite leaves brownish gray, Famatinite leaves black; luster reads metallic on Pirquitasite and dull metallic on Famatinite.
Often found alongside pirquitasite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pirquitasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₂ZnSnS₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.822 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains, twinning common
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As hydrothermal mineralization in veins associated with subvolcanic environments, similar to the classic Bolivian tin and silver deposits (Pirquitas deposit, Argentina)
Where rockhounds find pirquitasite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pirquitas deposit, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina (type locality)
- Toyoha mine, Hokkaido, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As hydrothermal mineralization in veins associated with subvolcanic environments, similar to the classic Bolivian tin and silver deposits (Pirquitas deposit, Argentina). If you start seeing hocartite, pyrite, marcasite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains, twinning common. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pirquitasite?+
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What rocks look like pirquitasite?+
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Find pirquitasite on the map
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