Poughite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidation zones of tellurium-rich ore deposits. It typically forms attractive yellow to orange-yellow tabular crystals or crusts, often associated with other rare tellurates and tellurites.
Is this poughite?
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 poughite with a known reference. Poughite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Poughite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Poughite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green, orange-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, or aggregates.
Often confused with
Poughite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside poughite
Minerals reported to co-occur with poughite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺₂(TeO₃)₂(SO₄)·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 4.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Or Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Tellurium-bearing Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find poughite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bambollita Mine, Mexico
- Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
- Grand Central Mine, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal tellurium-bearing deposits country — that is the host setting where poughite typically forms. If you start seeing emmonsite, quetzalcoatlite, tellurite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, or aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find poughite on the map
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