Tungstenite is a rare sulfide mineral that is chemically and structurally analogous to molybdenite, though it is significantly denser. Collectors typically find it in hydrothermal environments or hot spring deposits as thin, platy, metallic gray leaves that appear remarkably similar to graphite or molybdenite.
Is this tungstenite?
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 tungstenite with a known reference. Tungstenite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 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: hexagonal. Typical habit: foliated.
Often confused with
Tungstenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tungstenite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2.5 vs. 1-1.5); streak differs, so Tungstenite leaves gray, Molybdenite leaves bluish gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tungstenite leaves gray, Graphite leaves black to steel-gray, shining.
Often found alongside tungstenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tungstenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- WS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 7.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Foliated
- Cleavage
- {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a deposit replacing limestone (Emma mine, Utah, USA); replacing scheelite (Angokitsk deposit, Russia); in high-temperature fumaroles (Kudryavyy volcano, Russia)
Where rockhounds find tungstenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Goldstrike mine, Lynn district, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA
- Chase, British Columbia, and in the Kidd Creek mine, near Timmins, Ontario, Canada
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Kipushi, 28 km southwest of Lubumbashi, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire)
- Crevola d’Ossola, Piedmont, Italy
- Angokitsk tungsten deposit, Buryat, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a deposit replacing limestone (Emma mine, Utah, USA); replacing scheelite (Angokitsk deposit, Russia); in high-temperature fumaroles (Kudryavyy volcano, Russia). If you start seeing pyrite, sphalerite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: foliated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tungstenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
