Sternbergite is a rare silver-iron sulfide characterized by its distinct pinchbeck-brown color and metallic luster. It typically forms thin tabular crystals that exhibit deep striations and is most famous for its occurrences in the classic silver mining districts of Central Europe.
Is this sternbergite?
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 sternbergite with a known reference. Sternbergite sits at Mohs 1-1.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sternbergite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sternbergite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pinchbeck-brown, dark brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, often striated, sometimes in rosette-like aggregates or massive.
Often confused with
Sternbergite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrrhotite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4.5 vs. 1-1.5); streak differs — Sternbergite leaves black, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black.
How to tell apart: Cubanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1-1.5).
How to tell apart: Chalcopyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1-1.5); streak differs — Sternbergite leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
Often found alongside sternbergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sternbergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgFe₂S₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1-1.5
- Density
- 4.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Often Striated, Sometimes in Rosette-like Aggregates or Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Silver-bearing Sulfide Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small, high-quality display specimens
Where rockhounds find sternbergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Joachimsthal, Czech Republic
- Freiberg, Germany
- Schneeberg, Germany
- Príbram, Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal silver-bearing sulfide veins country — that is the host setting where sternbergite typically forms. If you start seeing pyrrhotite, proustite, stephanite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, often striated, sometimes in rosette-like aggregates or massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sternbergite?+
Where is sternbergite found?+
How much is sternbergite worth?+
Is sternbergite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like sternbergite?+
What minerals are found with sternbergite?+
What kind of rock does sternbergite form in?+
What is sternbergite used for?+
Find sternbergite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
