Selenostephanite is a rare selenium-rich variety of the silver sulfosalt stephanite. It typically occurs as small, metallic black crystals in hydrothermal vein environments and is primarily sought after by advanced collectors of silver minerals.
Is this selenostephanite?
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 selenostephanite with a known reference. Selenostephanite sits at Mohs 2-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Selenostephanite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Selenostephanite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, iron-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Selenostephanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside selenostephanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with selenostephanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₅(Sb,As)S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 6.3-6.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- Imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Mineralogical Study
- Host rock
- Epithermal Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find selenostephanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sperry, Nevada, USA
- Imiter Mine, Morocco
- Freiberg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where selenostephanite typically forms. If you start seeing silver, acanthite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify selenostephanite?+
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How much is selenostephanite worth?+
Is selenostephanite safe to handle?+
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Find selenostephanite on the map
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