Arsenohauchecornite is a rare nickel bismuth arsenic sulfosalt, typically bronze. It occurs in hydrothermal Ni-Co-Cu sulfide veins. It was first described from Vermilion mine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Is this arsenohauchecornite?
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 arsenohauchecornite with a known reference. Arsenohauchecornite sits at Mohs 5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic, brilliant on fresh surfaces.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Arsenohauchecornite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Arsenohauchecornite leaves grayish black, Hauchecornite leaves gray-black; luster reads metallic, brilliant on fresh surfaces on Arsenohauchecornite and lively metallic on fresh break on Hauchecornite.
How to tell apart: Arsenohauchecornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4).
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Arsenohauchecornite leaves grayish black, Pyrite leaves greenish black to brownish black.
Often found alongside arsenohauchecornite
Minerals reported to co-occur with arsenohauchecornite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₁₈Bi₃AsS₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 6.35 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic, brilliant on fresh surfaces
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal Ni–Co–Cu sulfide veins
Where rockhounds find arsenohauchecornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vermilion mine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (type locality)
- Karagaily, central Kazakhstan
- Tsumo mine, near Hiroshima City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal Ni–Co–Cu sulfide veins. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, gersdorffite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find arsenohauchecornite on the map
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