Stottite is an exceptionally rare germanium-bearing mineral primarily found in the Tsumeb mine in Namibia. It typically occurs as tiny, lustrous, black tetragonal dipyramidal crystals associated with other secondary minerals in the oxidized zones of ore deposits.
Is this stottite?
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 stottite with a known reference. Stottite 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. Stottite leaves a brownish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stottite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: small dipyramidal crystals.
Often confused with
Stottite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Renierite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Stottite leaves brownish black, Renierite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Stottite and metallic on Renierite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Stottite leaves brownish black, Germanite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Stottite and metallic on Germanite.
Often found alongside stottite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stottite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeGe(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.38 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish Black
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Small Dipyramidal Crystals
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Germanium-rich Sulfide Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find stottite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal germanium-rich sulfide deposits country — that is the host setting where stottite typically forms. If you start seeing tsumcorite, arseniosiderite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a small dipyramidal crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find stottite on the map
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