Awaruite is a rare natural nickel-iron alloy often found as small, rounded metallic grains in placer deposits derived from serpentinized rocks. It is highly magnetic and typically appears as a dense, silvery-white metallic mass in the field.
Is this awaruite?
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 awaruite with a known reference. Awaruite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Awaruite leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Awaruite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, yellow-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: massive, granular, or as rounded pebbles in stream deposits.
Often confused with
Awaruite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Awaruite leaves gray, Native Iron leaves steel gray.
How to tell apart: Awaruite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 4); streak differs — Awaruite leaves gray, Nickel leaves metallic gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Awaruite leaves gray, Magnetite leaves black.
Often found alongside awaruite
Minerals reported to co-occur with awaruite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₃Fe
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 8.0-8.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or as Rounded Pebbles in Stream Deposits
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Scientific Research, Collector
- Host rock
- Serpentinized Ultramafic Rocks and Placer Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find awaruite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jackson County, Oregon, USA
- Gorge River, New Zealand
- Hokkaido, Japan
- New Caledonia
Field-hunting tip
Look in serpentinized ultramafic rocks and placer deposits country — that is the host setting where awaruite typically forms. If you start seeing serpentine, magnetite, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or as rounded pebbles in stream deposits habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find awaruite on the map
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