Identification guide · Metals & Alloys
How to Identify Tungsten
Tungsten is usually dark gray, steel gray, and silver-gray with a metallic luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 7.5. It scratches glass, steel and even quartz; only harder gems will mark it. Its streak is gray. It is most often confused with Chrome, Titanium, and Hematite; the tests below separate them.
Tungsten identification checklist
| Color | Dark gray, Steel gray, Silver-gray | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Metallic | Turn it under a lamp: a true metallic shine reflects like polished metal and stays opaque at thin edges. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5 | It scratches glass, steel and even quartz; only harder gems will mark it. |
| Streak | Gray | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Ductile to uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 19.25 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 19.25). |
Tungsten look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Chrome is harder (Mohs 8.5) than Tungsten (Mohs 7.5), so Chrome will scratch Tungsten and not the other way round. It scratches glass, steel and even quartz; only harder gems will mark it. Tungsten vs Chrome →
Tungsten is harder (Mohs 7.5) than Titanium (Mohs 6), so Tungsten will scratch Titanium and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Tungsten vs Titanium →
Tungsten is harder (Mohs 7.5) than Hematite (Mohs 6), so Tungsten will scratch Hematite and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Tungsten vs Hematite →
Tungsten is harder (Mohs 7.5) than Aluminum (Mohs 2.75), so Tungsten will scratch Aluminum and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
Field tips
- Look for a dark gray to steel-gray metal.
- Tungsten is unusually heavy for its size.
- Polished tungsten rings often have a hard, mirror-like gray shine.
- Tungsten carbide can be very scratch resistant but not easily bent.
Tungsten identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Tungsten?
Check the color (dark gray, steel gray, and silver-gray), the metallic luster, a Mohs hardness of 7.5 and a gray streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Tungsten?
Tungsten has a Mohs hardness of 7.5. It scratches glass, steel and even quartz; only harder gems will mark it.
What is the difference between Tungsten and Chrome?
Tungsten (Mohs 7.5, metallic luster) and Chrome (Mohs 8.5, metallic luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Tungsten vs Chrome comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Tungsten worth anything?
Entry-level Tungsten specimens sell for around $5, typical collector pieces about $60, and premium examples $600 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Tungsten?
Tungsten is most often dark gray, steel gray, and silver-gray. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
