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 8.5-9 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Qusongite leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Qusongite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: microscopic grains and inclusions.
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 8.5-9 vs. 7.5).
How to tell apart: Diamond is the harder of the two (Mohs 10 vs. 8.5-9); streak differs — Qusongite leaves gray, Diamond leaves none; luster reads metallic on Qusongite and adamantine 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
- 8.5-9
- Density
- 15.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic Grains and Inclusions
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Podiform Chromitites in Ophiolitic Massifs
- Typical price
- extremely high, mostly sold as micro-specimens in research collections
Where rockhounds find qusongite
Classic worldwide localities
- Qusong County, Tibet, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in podiform chromitites in ophiolitic massifs country — that is the host setting where qusongite typically forms. If you start seeing diamond, chromite, osmium in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microscopic grains and inclusions habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find qusongite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
