How do I identify Mawsonite?

Mawsonite can be identified by its hardness of 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale, Brownish orange color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Mawsonite?

Mawsonite typically appears in Brownish orange. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Mawsonite?

Mawsonite has a hardness of 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Mawsonite

A variety of Minerals

What is Mawsonite?

Mawsonite is a brownish orange sulfosalt mineral, containing copper, iron, tin, and sulfur: Cu6Fe2SnS8.

Mawsonite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Mawsonite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Mawsonite Localities Map

See where Mawsonite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Formation of Mawsonite

It was first described in 1965 for occurrences in the Royal George mine, Swinton, Tingha, Hardinge County, New South Wales; and the North Lyell mine, Mount Lyell Mine, Queenstown, Tasmania. It was named after Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson (1882–1958). It occurs within hydrothermal copper deposits in altered volcanic rocks. It also occurs in skarn deposits and as disseminations in altered granites. It occurs in association with bornite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, digenite, idaite, stannite, stannoidite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, tennantite, enargite, luzonite–famatinite, kiddcreekite, mohite, native bismuth, galena and sphalerite.