Mohite is a rare copper tin sulfide, typically gray with a greenish tint. It occurs in hydrothermal origin. Associated minerals include tetrahedrite, famatinite and kuramite. It was first described from Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan.
Is this mohite?
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 mohite with a known reference. Mohite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mohite leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mohite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel-gray, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Mohite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Berzelianite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Umangite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Mohite leaves gray, Chalcocite leaves lead-gray to black.
Often found alongside mohite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mohite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂SnS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 4.86 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
Where rockhounds find mohite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where mohite typically forms. If you start seeing berzelianite, umangite, klockmannite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mohite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
