Tungstibite is a rare antimony tungstate mineral usually found as fine-grained, earthy, or pulverulent crusts coating other minerals. It is typically associated with oxidized stibnite deposits and is valued by collectors for its rarity rather than aesthetic display.
Is this tungstibite?
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 tungstibite with a known reference. Tungstibite sits at Mohs ~2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull, may be pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, dark green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: globular.
Often confused with
Tungstibite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-7 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Tungstibite leaves green, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads dull, may be pearly on Tungstibite and pearly, opaline, glassy to earthy on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Bindheimite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Tungstibite leaves green, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads dull, may be pearly on Tungstibite and resinous, dull, earthy on Bindheimite.
Often found alongside tungstibite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tungstibite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb₂WO₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 6.69 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Green
- Luster
- Dull, may be pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Globular
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermal polymetallic barite–fluorite deposit
Where rockhounds find tungstibite
Classic worldwide localities
- Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermal polymetallic barite–fluorite deposit. If you start seeing cervantite, quartz, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: globular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tungstibite on the map
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