Breithauptite is a rare nickel antimonide characterized by its distinct, intense copper-red color that often tarnishes to a darker shade. It is primarily found in hydrothermal veins associated with nickel and silver deposits, typically occurring as massive aggregates or thin, brittle tabular crystals.
Is this breithauptite?
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 breithauptite with a known reference. Breithauptite 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. Breithauptite leaves a red-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Breithauptite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: copper-red, red-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Breithauptite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Breithauptite leaves red-brown, Nickeline leaves brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Breithauptite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5-4.5); streak differs — Breithauptite leaves red-brown, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black.
Often found alongside breithauptite
Minerals reported to co-occur with breithauptite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiSb
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 8.2-8.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Red-brown
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {10-10}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Nickel
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find breithauptite
Classic worldwide localities
- Andreasberg, Germany
- Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
- Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Kongsberg, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where breithauptite typically forms. If you start seeing niccolite, calcite, silver in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find breithauptite on the map
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