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, so Awaruite leaves gray, Native Iron leaves steel gray.
How to tell apart: Awaruite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Awaruite leaves gray, Nickel leaves metallic gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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