Tungstibite is a rare antimony tungstate mineral usually found as fine-grained, earthy, or pulverulent crusts coating other minerals. It is typically associated with oxidized stibnite deposits and is valued by collectors for its rarity rather than aesthetic display.
Is this tungstibite?
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 tungstibite with a known reference. Tungstibite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tungstibite leaves a green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tungstibite typically shows a dull to pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, dark green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, earthy, powdery crusts.
Often confused with
Tungstibite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Tungstibite leaves green, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads dull to pearly on Tungstibite and pearly to earthy on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Bindheimite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Tungstibite leaves green, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads dull to pearly on Tungstibite and earthy on Bindheimite.
Often found alongside tungstibite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tungstibite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb₂WO₆
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 6.8-6.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Green
- Luster
- Dull to Pearly
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Earthy, Powdery Crusts
- Cleavage
- {001}, Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Antimony Deposits
Where rockhounds find tungstibite
Classic worldwide localities
- The Clara Mine, near Oberwolfach, central Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal antimony deposits country, the host setting where tungstibite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, scheelite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, earthy, powdery crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tungstibite on the map
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