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. Streak: brownish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark yellow green, pistachio green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: crystalline.
Often confused with
Bunsenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bunsenite leaves brownish black, Periclase leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bunsenite leaves brownish 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
- 6.898 g/cm³
- Colors
- Dark yellow greenPistachio green
- Streak
- Brownish black
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermal Ni–U vein (Johanngeorgenstadt, Germany); in a small tabular nickel deposit at the contact between quartzite and serpentinized ultramafics
Where rockhounds find bunsenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany
- Three km west of the Scotia Talc mine, Bon Accord, Barberton district, Transvaal, South Africa
- Kambalda, 56 km south of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermal Ni–U vein (Johanngeorgenstadt, Germany); in a small tabular nickel deposit at the contact between quartzite and serpentinized ultramafics. If you start seeing bismuth, annabergite, aerugite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bunsenite?+
Where is bunsenite found?+
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.
