Wiserite is a rare manganese borate mineral typically found as radial or fibrous aggregates within dolomitic marbles. It is highly prized by collectors for its distinct yellow-to-brown coloration and notable fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It is almost exclusively found at its type locality in the Binntal region of Switzerland.
Is this wiserite?
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 wiserite with a known reference. Wiserite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wiserite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wiserite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, red-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: fibrous, prismatic, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Wiserite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Ludwigite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Wiserite leaves yellow, Ludwigite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Wiserite and submetallic on Ludwigite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wiserite leaves yellow, Sussexite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Wiserite and silky on Sussexite.
Often found alongside wiserite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wiserite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₁₄Mg₂B₁₆O₄₄(OH,Cl,F)₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.38 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, Prismatic, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow Under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Dolomitic Marbles
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find wiserite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wiser mine, Binntal, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Look in dolomitic marbles country, the host setting where wiserite typically forms. If you start seeing dolomite, quartz, cinnabar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, prismatic, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wiserite on the map
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