Stibnite is recognized by its distinct metallic lead-gray color and highly prismatic, deeply striated crystals that often form radiating clusters. It is quite soft and has perfect cleavage, making it a brittle specimen that requires careful handling. It is primarily found in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and is a significant ore for the metal antimony.
Is this stibnite?
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 stibnite with a known reference. Stibnite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Stibnite leaves a lead-gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stibnite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, steel-gray, blackish-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or prismatic crystals, often with longitudinal striations, and bladed or granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Stibnite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside stibnite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stibnite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb₂S₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.6-4.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- Lead-gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Prismatic Crystals, Often with Longitudinal Striations, And Bladed or Granular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Antimony
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-150 depending on crystal size and termination quality
Where rockhounds find stibnite
8 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Ichinokawa Mine (Japan)
- Baia Sprie (Romania)
- Hunan Province (China)
- San Jose (Mexico)
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where stibnite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or prismatic crystals, often with longitudinal striations, and bladed or granular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Idaho, Washington, Arizona — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify stibnite?+
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Can I find stibnite in the United States?+
How much is stibnite worth?+
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What rocks look like stibnite?+
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Find stibnite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
