Brezinaite is a very rare sulfide mineral originally discovered within the Brezina iron meteorite. It typically occurs as small, bronze-colored grains within the metallic matrix of meteorites, making it a highly prized specimen for meteorite collectors and planetary scientists.
Is this brezinaite?
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 brezinaite with a known reference. Brezinaite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Brezinaite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Brezinaite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Brezinaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside brezinaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with brezinaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cr₃S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.49 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Iron Meteorites
- Typical price
- extremely high, primarily restricted to institutional or specialist collections
Where rockhounds find brezinaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Brezina meteorite, Algeria
Field-hunting tip
Look in iron meteorites country — that is the host setting where brezinaite typically forms. If you start seeing kamacite, taenite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find brezinaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
