Aerugite is a rare nickel arsenate mineral that typically forms as minute, bright green hexagonal plates. It is primarily found in old mining districts in Saxony, Germany, often associated with other nickel-bearing secondary minerals. Due to its extreme rarity, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare species.
Is this aerugite?
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 aerugite with a known reference. Aerugite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Aerugite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Aerugite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: hexagonal plates, micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Aerugite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Aerugite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 1.5-2.5); luster reads vitreous on Aerugite and pearly, vitreous on Annabergite.
How to tell apart: Bunsenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Aerugite leaves pale green, Bunsenite leaves greenish black.
Often found alongside aerugite
Minerals reported to co-occur with aerugite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₈₅As₃₀O₈₀
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal Plates, Micaceous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Nickel-arsenic Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find aerugite
Classic worldwide localities
- Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal nickel-arsenic deposits country — that is the host setting where aerugite typically forms. If you start seeing annabergite, bunsenite, nickel-skutterudite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a hexagonal plates, micaceous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify aerugite?+
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How much is aerugite worth?+
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Find aerugite on the map
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