Stützite is a rare silver telluride mineral typically found as massive or granular inclusions within telluride-rich ore deposits. Because it looks very similar to other silver tellurides like hessite, positive identification often requires XRD or polished section analysis. It is highly sought after by advanced collectors of rare telluride minerals.
Is this stützite?
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 stützite with a known reference. Stützite 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. Streak: lead gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, dark bronze.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Stützite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stützite leaves lead gray, Hessite leaves light gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stützite leaves lead gray, Petzite leaves grayish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stützite leaves lead gray, Altaite leaves black.
Often found alongside stützite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stützite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₅₋ₓTe₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 8.00 g/cm³
- Colors
- GrayDark bronze
- Streak
- Lead gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As replacement masses in hydrothermal deposits associated with other tellurides and sulfides
Where rockhounds find stützite
Classic worldwide localities
- May Day mine, La Plata district, La Plata Co., Colorado, USA
- Golden Fleece mines, Lake City, Hinsdale Co., Colorado, USA
- Empress Josephine mine, Bonanza district, Saguache Co., Colorado, USA
- Buckeye Gulch, near Leadville, Lake Co., Colorado, USA
- A museum specimen, probably from Săcărı̂mb (Nagyág), Romania (type locality)
- Kremnica (Kremnitz) and Bys̆ta, Slovakia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As replacement masses in hydrothermal deposits associated with other tellurides and sulfides. If you start seeing sylvanite, hessite, altaite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify stützite?+
Where is stützite found?+
Is stützite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like stützite?+
What minerals are found with stützite?+
What kind of rock does stützite form in?+
What is stützite used for?+
Find stützite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
