Toyohaite is a rare silver iron tin sulfide mineral typically found as small, opaque metallic grains within complex hydrothermal ore deposits. It is often identified in polished ore sections alongside other sulfide minerals, making it a challenging species for field identification without analytical methods.
Is this toyohaite?
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 toyohaite with a known reference. Toyohaite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Toyohaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside toyohaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with toyohaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₂FeSn₃S₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal vein material (Treasure Vault mine, Colorado, USA)
Where rockhounds find toyohaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Treasure Vault (misnamed Treasury) mine, Geneva district, Clear Creek Co., Colorado (type locality), USA
- A prospect, 10 km southwest of Tyrone, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- Beregovo district, near Mukachevo, Ukraine
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal vein material (Treasure Vault mine, Colorado, USA). If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify toyohaite?+
Where is toyohaite found?+
Is toyohaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like toyohaite?+
What minerals are found with toyohaite?+
What kind of rock does toyohaite form in?+
What is toyohaite used for?+
Find toyohaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
