Shuangfengite is a rare iridium-telluride mineral first discovered in the Shuangfeng mine in China. It typically occurs as small, silver-white metallic grains or tabular crystals within platinum-group element bearing deposits. Collectors prize it for its extreme rarity and complex composition as an iridium-dominant species.
Is this shuangfengite?
4-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 shuangfengite with a known reference. Shuangfengite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Shuangfengite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside shuangfengite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shuangfengite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- IrTe₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 10.14 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- All rights reserved
Where rockhounds find shuangfengite
Classic worldwide localities
- Located hear the village of Shuangfeng about 190 km NNE of Beijing, People's Republic of China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: All rights reserved. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, pyrite, pentlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify shuangfengite?+
Where is shuangfengite found?+
Is shuangfengite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like shuangfengite?+
What minerals are found with shuangfengite?+
What kind of rock does shuangfengite form in?+
What is shuangfengite used for?+
Find shuangfengite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
