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 is the principal ore of mercury and one of the densest non-metallic minerals. Its striking scarlet color has made it a prized pigment (vermilion) since antiquity. It typically forms near volc
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 is an important tungsten ore mineral and forms a series between ferberite (iron-rich) and huebnerite (manganese-rich). Tungsten derived from wolframite is essential for high-temperature ind
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
Magnetite is one of the most magnetic of all naturally occurring minerals and is the most magnetic mineral commonly found on Earth. It is an important ore of iron and was used as an early form of comp
SG 5.17-5.18 Mohs 5.5-6.5 MetallicSee details → -
Pyrite (FeS2)Cubic (Isometric) · Metallic
Known as 'fool's gold,' pyrite is the most common sulfide mineral. Its metallic luster and pale brass-yellow color give it a superficial resemblance to gold. Pyrite occurs in all rock types and is a s
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
Olivine is a group of silicate minerals common in Earth's mantle and in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. The gem variety is called peridot. Olivine is one of the first minerals to crystallize from
SG 3.22-4.39 Mohs 6.5-7.0 VitreousSee details → -
Garnet (Almandine) (Fe3Al2(SiO4)3)Cubic (Isometric) · Vitreous
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 as gems
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 is the most common natural form of titanium dioxide and an important ore of titanium. Its golden needle-like crystals enclosed in quartz (rutilated quartz) are prized as gemstones. It also occu
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 is the principal ore of zinc and one of the most common sulfide minerals. Its name comes from the Greek word for 'deceptive' because it was often mistaken for galena. Pure sphalerite is pal
SG 3.90-4.10 Mohs 3.5-4.0 AdamantineSee details → -
Malachite (Cu2(CO3)(OH)2)Monoclinic · Vitreous
Malachite is a vivid green copper carbonate mineral that has been used as a pigment and gemstone for thousands of years. Its distinctive banded pattern makes it popular in decorative objects. It commo
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 →