Zangboite is an extremely rare iron titanium silicide mineral first discovered in the heavy mineral concentrates of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. It typically occurs as small, metallic steel-gray grains within ophiolitic rock environments and is prized exclusively by high-end mineral collectors.
Is this zangboite?
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 zangboite with a known reference. Zangboite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zangboite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zangboite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel-gray, iron-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: grains.
Often confused with
Zangboite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside zangboite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zangboite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TiFeSi₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 5.02 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Ophiolitic Peridotite
- Typical price
- $50-300 micro to thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find zangboite
Classic worldwide localities
- Zangbo river, Tibet, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in ophiolitic peridotite country — that is the host setting where zangboite typically forms. If you start seeing chromite, iron, native copper in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find zangboite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
