Tripuhyite is an uncommon iron-antimony oxide that typically occurs as a secondary mineral in oxidized zones of antimony-bearing ore deposits. It is most often found as earthy yellow masses or coatings associated with stibnite, making it a challenging mineral to identify without laboratory testing.
Is this tripuhyite?
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 tripuhyite with a known reference. Tripuhyite sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: canary-yellow to dark brown with a greenish tinge.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish black, greenish yellow, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: fibrous.
Often confused with
Tripuhyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tripuhyite leaves canary-yellow to dark brown with a greenish tinge, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads dull on Tripuhyite and pearly, opaline, glassy to earthy on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Tripuhyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Tripuhyite leaves canary-yellow to dark brown with a greenish tinge, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads dull on Tripuhyite and resinous, dull, earthy on Bindheimite.
Often found alongside tripuhyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tripuhyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺Sb⁵⁺O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 5.82 g/cm³
- Streak
- Canary-yellow to dark brown with a greenish tinge
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An alteration product of stibnite and pyrite in the oxidation zone of some hydrothermal antimony deposits; a detrital mineral
Where rockhounds find tripuhyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bear Mountain district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
- McDermitt mine, Ophir district, Humboldt Co., from the Goldstrike mine, Lynn district, and the Gold Quarry mine, Maggie Creek district, Eureka Co., and at the Green prospect, Mopung Hills, Lake district, Churchill Co., Nevada, USA
- Tripuhy cinnabar mine, Ouro Prêto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Doncellas, Jujuy Province, Argentina
- El Antimonio, Sonora, Mexico
- Djebel Nador, Qacentina (Constantine), Algeria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of stibnite and pyrite in the oxidation zone of some hydrothermal antimony deposits; a detrital mineral. If you start seeing lewisite, monazite, rutile in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tripuhyite on the map
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