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 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray white, silver white, tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. 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: Awaruite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 4); streak differs, so Awaruite leaves light gray, Native Iron leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Awaruite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 4.5); streak differs, so Awaruite leaves light gray, Nickel leaves grayish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Awaruite leaves light 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
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 7.8-8.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, granular, or as rounded pebbles in stream deposits
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Scientific research, Collector
- Host rock
- In chromitite associated with ultramafic igneous rocks; in river placers, from serpentinized peridotites and ophiolites; rare in meteorites
Where rockhounds find awaruite
Classic worldwide localities
- Josephine and Jackson Cos., Oregon, USA
- South Fork, Smith River, Del Norte Co., California, USA
- Line Pit mine, Cecil Co., Maryland, USA
- Red Hills and the Gorge River draining them, near Awarua Bay, south Westland, New Zealand
- Coolac, New South Wales, and in the Lord Brassey mine, Tasmania, Australia
- Bobrovka River, Nizhni Tagil, Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In chromitite associated with ultramafic igneous rocks; in river placers, from serpentinized peridotites and ophiolites; rare in meteorites. If you start seeing gold, magnetite, copper in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, granular, or as rounded pebbles in stream deposits. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify awaruite?+
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Find awaruite on the map
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