Russellite is a rare bismuth tungstate mineral that typically forms as an oxidation product of bismuth and tungsten minerals. Collectors primarily find it as thin coatings or small masses in weathered veins, characterized by its distinctively high density and yellowish, earthy appearance.
Is this russellite?
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 russellite with a known reference. Russellite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown orange, greenish, greenish yellow, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, earthy, or as small crystalline aggregates.
Often confused with
Russellite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Russellite leaves white, Bismutite leaves gray; luster reads adamantine on Russellite and vitreous, waxy, may be dull to earthy on Bismutite.
How to tell apart: Scheelite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 3.5); luster reads adamantine on Russellite and vitreous to adamantine on Scheelite.
Often found alongside russellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with russellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₂WO₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 7.35 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, earthy, or as small crystalline aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An alteration product of earlier bismuth minerals in Sn–W-bearing high-temperature hydrothermal mineral deposits, greisens, or granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find russellite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sylvanite, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico, USA
- Castle-an-Dinas mine, St. Columb Major, and the Hingston Down quarry, Calstock, Cornwall, England
- Buckbarrow Beck, Corney Fell, Cumbria, England
- Himmelsfürst mine, Erbisdorf, near Freiberg, and at Altenberg, Saxony, and in the Clara Mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany
- Krupka, Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic
- Nug-4 claim, Nahani River area, Northwest Territories, and the Flo property, Kalzas Mountain, 67 km southeast of Mayo, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of earlier bismuth minerals in Sn–W-bearing high-temperature hydrothermal mineral deposits, greisens, or granite pegmatites. If you start seeing bismuth, bismuthinite, bismite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, earthy, or as small crystalline aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify russellite?+
Where is russellite found?+
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Find russellite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
