Raspite is a rare lead tungstate mineral occurring as distinct, often tabular monoclinic crystals. It is most commonly found in the oxidized zones of lead-zinc deposits, frequently associated with wulfenite and stolzite.
Is this raspite?
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 raspite with a known reference. Raspite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow brown, yellow gray, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes elongated or vertically striated.
Often confused with
Raspite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Raspite leaves yellow white, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Raspite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Raspite leaves yellow white, Stolzite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Raspite and resinous, subadamantine on Stolzite.
Often found alongside raspite
Minerals reported to co-occur with raspite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbWO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 8.46 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow white
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, sometimes elongated or vertically striated
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An uncommon secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of tungsten-bearing hydrothermal base metal deposits; inverts to stolzite above 410°C
Where rockhounds find raspite
Classic worldwide localities
- Proprietary mine, Broken Hill, and the Cordillera mine, near Tuena, New South Wales, Australia
- Otani mine, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
- Kramat Pulai mine, Kinta district, Perak, Malaysia
- Sumidoro gold placers, Municipio do Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Gifurwe, Rwanda
- Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of tungsten-bearing hydrothermal base metal deposits; inverts to stolzite above 410°C. If you start seeing stolzite, yttrotungstite, alumotungstite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes elongated or vertically striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find raspite on the map
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