Wodginite is a rare oxide mineral primarily found in complex rare-element granitic pegmatites. It is often visually indistinguishable from members of the columbite-tantalite group without X-ray diffraction or chemical analysis. Collectors typically look for its characteristic submetallic luster and dark, often tabular crystal forms within albitized pegmatite zones.
Is this wodginite?
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 wodginite with a known reference. Wodginite sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wodginite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wodginite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, reddish brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular to equant crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Wodginite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wodginite leaves yellowish brown, Columbium Ore leaves dark red to black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wodginite leaves yellowish brown, Tantalite leaves black to reddish-brown; luster reads submetallic on Wodginite and submetallic to resinous on Tantalite.
Often found alongside wodginite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wodginite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn⁴⁺SnTa₂O₈
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 7.1-7.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to Equant Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Tantalum
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and clarity
Where rockhounds find wodginite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wodgina, Western Australia
- Bernic Lake, Manitoba, Canada
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Pilbara region, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where wodginite typically forms. If you start seeing albite, quartz, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular to equant crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wodginite?+
Where is wodginite found?+
How much is wodginite worth?+
What rocks look like wodginite?+
What minerals are found with wodginite?+
What kind of rock does wodginite form in?+
What is wodginite used for?+
Find wodginite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
