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. Pittongite leaves a cream streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pittongite typically shows a pearly to earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: cream yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: microscopic acicular crystals and crusts.
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 earthy on Bindheimite.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 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
- Streak
- Cream
- Luster
- Pearly to Earthy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic Acicular Crystals and Crusts
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Stibnite-bearing Quartz Veins
Where rockhounds find pittongite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pittong, Victoria, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized stibnite-bearing quartz veins country, the host setting where pittongite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, bindheimite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microscopic acicular crystals and crusts habit, so 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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