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 — Wiserite leaves yellow, Ludwigite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Wiserite and submetallic on Ludwigite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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