Tugarinovite is a rare molybdenum oxide mineral that typically occurs as small inclusions or grains within hydrothermal vein deposits. It is often challenging to identify in the field due to its small size and similarity to other opaque oxides like rutile or cassiterite, often requiring chemical analysis for verification.
Is this tugarinovite?
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 tugarinovite with a known reference. Tugarinovite 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. Tugarinovite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tugarinovite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, inclusions in host minerals.
Often confused with
Tugarinovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cassiterite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4-5); streak differs — Tugarinovite leaves yellow, Cassiterite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Rutile is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4-5); streak differs — Tugarinovite leaves yellow, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads adamantine on Tugarinovite and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Tugarinovite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4-5 vs. 1-2); luster reads adamantine on Tugarinovite and silky on Molybdite.
Often found alongside tugarinovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tugarinovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MoO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 6.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Inclusions in Host Minerals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Deposits, Vein Systems
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find tugarinovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Adun-Cholon, Transbaikalia, Russia
- Srednyaya Padma, Karelia, Russia
- Eastern Siberia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal deposits, vein systems country — that is the host setting where tugarinovite typically forms. If you start seeing molybdenite, quartz, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, inclusions in host minerals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tugarinovite on the map
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