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, 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.
