Vistepite is a very rare tin-manganese borosilicate mineral discovered in the skarns of the Russian Far East. Collectors look for its characteristic pale brownish-yellow prismatic crystals, often occurring in radial sprays or fibrous aggregates within carbonate host rocks.
Is this vistepite?
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 vistepite with a known reference. Vistepite 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. Vistepite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vistepite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, pinkish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Vistepite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vistepite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vistepite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SnMn₂B₂SiO₇(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.66 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Borosilicate-rich Skarns
- Typical price
- $50-300 per thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find vistepite
Classic worldwide localities
- Arsenatnoye deposit, Primorskiy Kray, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in borosilicate-rich skarns country — that is the host setting where vistepite typically forms. If you start seeing danburite, vonsenite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vistepite?+
Where is vistepite found?+
How much is vistepite worth?+
What rocks look like vistepite?+
What minerals are found with vistepite?+
What kind of rock does vistepite form in?+
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Find vistepite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
