Stephanite is a sought-after primary silver sulfide mineral prized by collectors for its sharp, complex pseudo-hexagonal crystal forms. It is typically found in hydrothermal veins associated with other silver-antimony sulfosalts and requires careful handling due to its brittle nature.
Is this stephanite?
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 stephanite with a known reference. Stephanite 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. Streak: iron-black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, pseudo hexagonal, tabular.
Often confused with
Stephanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stephanite leaves iron-black, Polybasite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stephanite leaves iron-black, Pearceite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stephanite leaves iron-black, Argentite leaves black.
Often found alongside stephanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stephanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₅SbS₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 6.26 g/cm³
- Streak
- Iron-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, pseudo hexagonal, tabular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {010} and {021}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Historical silver ore
- Host rock
- A late-stage mineral in hydrothermal silver deposits
Where rockhounds find stephanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Storey Co., Nevada, USA
- Freiberg (type locality), Schneeberg, and Marienberg, Saxony, Germany
- St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
- Banská Hodruša and from Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz), Slovakia
- Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Příbram, and Třebsko, Czech Republic
- Monte Narba, near Sarrabus, Sardinia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage mineral in hydrothermal silver deposits. If you start seeing proustite, acanthite, silver in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, pseudo hexagonal, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify stephanite?+
Where is stephanite found?+
Is stephanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like stephanite?+
What minerals are found with stephanite?+
What kind of rock does stephanite form in?+
What is stephanite used for?+
Find stephanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
