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 5.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tripuhyite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tripuhyite typically shows a sub-adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, greenish yellow, brownish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, crusts, or earthy aggregates.
Often confused with
Tripuhyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tripuhyite leaves yellow, Stibiconite leaves white; luster reads sub-adamantine on Tripuhyite and dull on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Tripuhyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4-4.5); luster reads sub-adamantine on Tripuhyite and 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
- 5.5
- Density
- 6.6-6.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Sub-adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crusts, Or Earthy Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Antimony Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find tripuhyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tripuhy, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Catorce, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Boron, California, USA
- Wolfsberg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal antimony deposits country — that is the host setting where tripuhyite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, goethite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crusts, or earthy aggregates habit, so 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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