Densest Minerals
20 minerals
The densest minerals typically contain heavy elements such as lead, gold, platinum, tungsten, or uranium. Native gold (SG 19.3) and platinum (SG 21.5) are legendary for their heft, while sulfide and oxide minerals of lead, bismuth, and mercury also cluster at the high end. Crystal packing efficiency and atomic mass together determine where a mineral falls on the density spectrum.
Density data guides prospectors in panning and gravity separation, helps gemologists distinguish natural stones from simulants, and underpins industrial applications where mass per volume matters — from radiation shielding (galena) to ballast and counterweights (native metals).
How we ranked these
Ranked by maximum specific gravity value. Values from Mindat.org and the Handbook of Mineralogy. Only minerals with verified specific gravity data are included.
Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Gold is a precious metal that has been valued since antiquity. It is extremely malleable and ductile, and is the most non-reactive of all metals. Native gold typically contains silver and sometimes co
Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Native silver occurs in hydrothermal veins, often associated with calcite, quartz, and other sulfide minerals. It is the best conductor of electricity and has been used for coinage and jewelry for mil
Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Native copper was one of the first metals used by humans, with artifacts dating back over 10,000 years. It occurs in basaltic lava flows and sandstone deposits. The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan prod
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Cinnabar (HgS)Trigonal · Adamantine
Cinnabar é o principal minério de mercúrio e um dos minerais não metálicos mais densos. Sua impressionante cor escarlate o tornou um pigmento precioso (vermelhão) desde a antiguidade. Forma-se tipicam
SG 8.10-8.20 Mohs 2.0-2.5 AdamantineSee details → -
Galena (PbS)Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Galena is the principal ore of lead and one of the most widely distributed sulfide minerals. It commonly occurs with sphalerite, calcite, and fluorite. Its perfect cubic cleavage and high specific gra
SG 7.40-7.60 Mohs 2.5-2.8 MetallicSee details → -
Wolframite ((Fe,Mn)WO4)Monoclinic · Submetallic
Wolframite é um mineral importante de minério de tungstênio que forma uma série entre ferberita (rica em ferro) e huebnerita (rica em manganês). O tungstênio derivado da wolframita é essencial para ap
SG 7.00-7.50 Mohs 4.0-4.5 SubmetallicSee details → -
Cassiterite (SnO2)Tetragonal · Adamantine
Cassiterite is the principal ore of tin and has been mined since the Bronze Age. It occurs primarily in high-temperature hydrothermal veins and placer deposits. Major sources include China, Indonesia,
SG 6.80-7.10 Mohs 6.0-7.0 AdamantineSee details → -
Hematite (Fe2O3)Trigonal · Metallic
Hematite is the principal ore of iron and one of the most common iron minerals. Its name comes from the Greek word for blood, referring to the red color of its streak. Specular hematite has a brillian
SG 5.00-5.30 Mohs 5.0-6.5 MetallicSee details → -
Magnetite (Fe3O4)Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Magnetita é um dos minerais mais magnéticos de todos os minerais naturais e é a principal fonte de minério de ferro.
SG 5.17-5.18 Mohs 5.5-6.5 MetallicSee details → -
Pyrite (FeS2)Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Conhecida como 'ouro dos tolos', a pirita é o mineral sulfeto mais comum. Seu brilho metálico e cor amarelo-latão pálido lhe conferem uma semelhança superficial com o ouro. Ocorre em todos os tipos de
SG 4.95-5.10 Mohs 6.0-6.5 MetallicSee details → -
Zircon (ZrSiO4)Tetragonal · Adamantine
Zircon is the oldest mineral found on Earth, with some crystals dating back 4.4 billion years. It is an important accessory mineral in igneous rocks and a key mineral for geochronology (U-Pb dating).
SG 3.93-4.73 Mohs 6.5-7.5 AdamantineSee details → -
Barite (BaSO4)Orthorhombic · Vitreous
Barite is notable for its high specific gravity (the heaviest of the common non-metallic minerals) and is the reference mineral for barium. It is primarily used as a weighting agent in drilling muds f
SG 4.30-4.60 Mohs 3.0-3.5 VitreousSee details → -
Olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4)Orthorhombic · Vitreous
Olivina é um grupo de minerais silicatados comuns no manto terrestre e em rochas máficas e ultramáficas.
SG 3.22-4.39 Mohs 6.5-7.0 VitreousSee details → -
Garnet (Almandine) (Fe3Al2(SiO4)3)Cubic (Isometric) · Vitreous
grupo Almandine is the most common garnet species and a key metamorphic indicator mineral. The garnet group includes pyrope, grossular, andradite, spessartine, and uvarovite. Garnets are widely used a
SG 3.93-4.32 Mohs 6.5-7.5 VitreousSee details → -
Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)Tetragonal · Metallic
Chalcopyrite is the most important copper ore mineral and occurs in virtually all sulfide deposits. It is often confused with pyrite but can be distinguished by its deeper yellow color, lower hardness
SG 4.10-4.30 Mohs 3.5-4.0 MetallicSee details → -
Rutile (TiO2)Tetragonal · Adamantine
Rutile é a forma natural mais comum de dióxido de titânio e um minério importante de titânio. Seus cristais aciculares dourados inclusos em quartzo (quartzo rutilado) são apreciados como gemas. Também
SG 4.18-4.25 Mohs 6.0-6.5 AdamantineSee details → -
Corundum (Al2O3)Trigonal · Adamantine
Corundum is the second hardest natural mineral after diamond. Its gem varieties are ruby (red, colored by chromium) and sapphire (all other colors). Synthetic corundum is widely used as an abrasive an
SG 3.98-4.10 Mohs 9.0 AdamantineSee details → -
Sphalerite (ZnS)Cubic (Isometric) · Adamantine
Sphalerite é o principal minério de zinco e um dos minerais sulfetos mais comuns. Seu nome vem do grego 'enganoso' porque era frequentemente confundida com a galena. A esfalerita pura é amarelo pálido
SG 3.90-4.10 Mohs 3.5-4.0 AdamantineSee details → -
Malachite (Cu2(CO3)(OH)2)Monoclinic · Vitreous
Malaquita é um mineral vívido de carbonato de cobre verde usado como pigmento desde a antiguidade.
SG 3.60-4.00 Mohs 3.5-4.0 VitreousSee details → -
Celestine (SrSO4)Orthorhombic · Vitreous
Celestine (celestite) is the primary ore of strontium, named for its occasional celestial blue color. The world's largest geode, the Crystal Cave in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, is lined with celestine crystals
SG 3.95-3.97 Mohs 3.0-3.5 VitreousSee details →