Qusongite is an extremely rare tungsten carbide mineral discovered in the ophiolite complexes of Tibet. It typically occurs as microscopic inclusions within diamond or chromite grains and is characterized by its exceptional hardness and high density.
Is this qusongite?
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 qusongite with a known reference. Qusongite sits at Mohs 9.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Qusongite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Qusongite is noticeably harder (Mohs 9.5 vs. ~7.5); streak differs, so Qusongite leaves black, Tungsten leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Qusongite leaves black, Diamond leaves colorless; luster reads metallic on Qusongite and adamantine to greasy on Diamond.
Often found alongside qusongite
Minerals reported to co-occur with qusongite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- WC
- Mohs hardness
- 9.5
- Density
- 15.84 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In heavy mineral separates from podiform chromitites in ophiolite
Where rockhounds find qusongite
Classic worldwide localities
- Luobusa ophiolite, ~200 km east southeast of Lhasa, Qusong County, Tibet, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In heavy mineral separates from podiform chromitites in ophiolite. If you start seeing chromian chlorite, calcite, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify qusongite?+
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What rocks look like qusongite?+
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Find qusongite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
