Pittongite is a rare sodium tungsten iron hydroxide, typically cream yellow. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2005. It was first described from mine dumps near the main shaft of a tungsten deposit (Bass and Watson's) 6 km west of Linton (near Ballarat), New England District, Victoria, Australia.
Is this pittongite?
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 pittongite with a known reference. Pittongite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: cream.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: pearly to earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: creamy yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: aggregates.
Often confused with
Pittongite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Bindheimite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Pittongite leaves cream, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads pearly to earthy on Pittongite and resinous, dull, earthy on Bindheimite.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-7 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Pittongite leaves cream, Stibiconite leaves light yellow.
Often found alongside pittongite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pittongite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,H₂O)₀.₇(W,Fe³⁺)(O,OH)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 5.715 g/cm³
- Colors
- Creamy yellow
- Streak
- Cream
- Luster
- Pearly to earthy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed by weathering ferberite in hydrothermal quartz veins associated with granite by chemical reaction with acidic, oxidizing solutions containing sodium
Where rockhounds find pittongite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mine dumps near the main shaft of a tungsten deposit 35 km west of Ballerat in the New England District of New South Wales, Australia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed by weathering ferberite in hydrothermal quartz veins associated with granite by chemical reaction with acidic, oxidizing solutions containing sodium. If you start seeing ferberite, quartz, bismuth in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pittongite on the map
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