Stottite is an exceptionally rare germanium-bearing mineral primarily found in the Tsumeb mine in Namibia. It typically occurs as tiny, lustrous, brown to green 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 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to adamantine, greasy on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, colorless, green.
- 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: Stottite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Stottite leaves grayish white, Renierite leaves blackish gray; luster reads resinous to adamantine, greasy on cleavages on Stottite and metallic on Renierite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stottite leaves grayish white, Germanite leaves dark gray to black; luster reads resinous to adamantine, greasy on cleavages on Stottite and metallic, dull 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
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.596 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish white
- Luster
- Resinous to adamantine, greasy on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Small dipyramidal crystals
- Cleavage
- {100}, {010}, good; {001}, poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral formed in an oxidized zone of a germanium-rich dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit
Where rockhounds find stottite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral formed in an oxidized zone of a germanium-rich dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit. If you start seeing tennantite, germanite, reniérite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: small dipyramidal crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify stottite?+
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Find stottite on the map
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