Wittite is a rare lead bismuth sulfoselenide that typically forms as lead-gray, foliated, or massive metallic grains. It is most often identified by its association with other bismuth-bearing minerals in hydrothermal or contact metamorphic environments and usually requires laboratory analysis for definitive identification.

Hardness

2-2.5

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Streak

Black

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrareLillianite Homologous Series family

Wittite

Hardness: 2-2.5
Luster: Metallic
Streak: Black
Transparency: Opaque

Is this wittite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch wittite with a known reference. Wittite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: light lead gray.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, striated.

Often confused with

Wittite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Galena

Mohs 2.5-2.75

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wittite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wittite leaves black, Bismuthinite leaves lead-gray.

Often found alongside wittite

Minerals reported to co-occur with wittite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Pb₉Bi₆(S,Se)₁₈
Mohs hardness: 2-2.5
Density: 7.12 g/cm³
Colors: Light lead gray
Streak: Black
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Massive, striated
Cleavage: Good, giving platy appearance
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector, Research
Host rock: In an amphibolite rock (Falun, Sweden); in garnet tactite (Middlemarch Canyon, Arizona, USA)

Where rockhounds find wittite

Classic worldwide localities

Middlemarch Canyon, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Falun, Kopparberg, Sweden
Found in the Gottesehre mine, near Urberg, Black Forest, Germany

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In an amphibolite rock (Falun, Sweden); in garnet tactite (Middlemarch Canyon, Arizona, USA). If you start seeing nordströmite, friedrichite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify wittite?+

Mohs hardness is 2-2.5. Luster: metallic. The streak is black. Common colors include light lead gray.

Where is wittite found?+

Notable localities include Middlemarch Canyon, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA; Falun, Kopparberg, Sweden; Found in the Gottesehre mine, near Urberg, Black Forest, Germany.

Is wittite safe to handle?+

Wittite contains lead and selenium. Contains lead and bismuth, and often trace amounts of selenium; handle with care and avoid inhalation of dust or ingestion.

What rocks look like wittite?+

Wittite is most often confused with Galena, Bismuthinite, Cosalite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with wittite?+

Wittite commonly co-occurs with Nordströmite, Friedrichite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Cordierite, Quartz. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does wittite form in?+

Where it forms: In an amphibolite rock (Falun, Sweden); in garnet tactite (Middlemarch Canyon, Arizona, USA). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is wittite used for?+

Wittite is used in collector, research.

Find wittite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.