Stenhuggarite is an extremely rare sulfosalt mineral found almost exclusively in the famous Lengenbach Quarry in Switzerland. It typically occurs as small, sharp, yellow tabular crystals embedded in dolomitic marble, often associated with other rare arsenic-bearing minerals.
Is this stenhuggarite?
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 stenhuggarite with a known reference. Stenhuggarite 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. Stenhuggarite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stenhuggarite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Stenhuggarite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Stenhuggarite leaves yellow, Sartorite leaves chocolate-brown; luster reads adamantine on Stenhuggarite and metallic on Sartorite.
How to tell apart: Stenhuggarite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Stenhuggarite leaves yellow, Gratonite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Stenhuggarite and metallic on Gratonite.
Often found alongside stenhuggarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stenhuggarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaFeAsSbS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.35 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Dolomite Rocks
- Typical price
- $200-2000 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find stenhuggarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lengenbach Quarry, Binntal, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Look in dolomite rocks country — that is the host setting where stenhuggarite typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, orpiment, sartorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find stenhuggarite on the map
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