Bunsenite is a rare nickel oxide mineral that typically occurs as small, dark green, octahedral crystals. It is primarily found in hydrothermal veins associated with nickel and bismuth deposits and is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors for its scarcity and vibrant color.
Is this bunsenite?
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 bunsenite with a known reference. Bunsenite 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. Bunsenite leaves a greenish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bunsenite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Bunsenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Bunsenite leaves greenish black, Periclase leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Bunsenite leaves greenish black, Wüstite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Bunsenite and metallic on Wüstite.
Often found alongside bunsenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bunsenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiO
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 7.4 g/cm³
- Streak
- Greenish Black
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Nickel-bismuth-cobalt Veins
- Typical price
- $100-1500+ depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find bunsenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany
- Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal nickel-bismuth-cobalt veins country — that is the host setting where bunsenite typically forms. If you start seeing annabergite, nickel-skutterudite, bismuth in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bunsenite?+
Where is bunsenite found?+
How much is bunsenite worth?+
Is bunsenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bunsenite?+
What minerals are found with bunsenite?+
What kind of rock does bunsenite form in?+
What is bunsenite used for?+
Find bunsenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
