Wassonite is a rare titanium monosulfide mineral discovered within the Yamato 691 enstatite chondrite meteorite. It typically occurs as microscopic anhedral grains associated with other sulfides and silicates in extraterrestrial material.
Is this wassonite?
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 wassonite with a known reference. Wassonite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wassonite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wassonite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Wassonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wassonite leaves yellow, Troilite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wassonite leaves yellow, Daubréelite leaves black; luster reads metallic on Wassonite and submetallic on Daubréelite.
Often found alongside wassonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wassonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TiS
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Enstatite Chondrite Meteorites
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find wassonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Yamato 691 meteorite
Field-hunting tip
Look in enstatite chondrite meteorites country — that is the host setting where wassonite typically forms. If you start seeing enstatite, troilite, forsterite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wassonite on the map
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