Chromferide is an extremely rare iron-chromium alloy first discovered in the Khatyrka meteorite. It occurs as microscopic grains within extraterrestrial rock and is significant for its unique composition and discovery in a quasicrystal-bearing meteorite.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Streak

Black

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrare

Chromferide

Hardness: 4
Luster: Metallic
Streak: Black
Transparency: Opaque

Is this chromferide?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch chromferide with a known reference. Chromferide sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: gray white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: grains.

Often confused with

Chromferide vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Iron

Mohs 4

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chromferide leaves black, Iron leaves gray.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chromferide leaves black, Kamacite leaves gray.

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Often found alongside chromferide

Minerals reported to co-occur with chromferide. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Fe₁.₅Cr₀.₂
Mohs hardness: 4
Density: 6.69 g/cm³
Colors: Gray white
Streak: Black
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Grains
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Research, Collector
Host rock: In quartz veins within brecciated amphibolites and schist

Where rockhounds find chromferide

Classic worldwide localities

Southern Ural Mountains, Russia (type locality)

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In quartz veins within brecciated amphibolites and schist. If you start seeing iron, copper, bismuth in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify chromferide?+

Mohs hardness is 4. Luster: metallic. The streak is black. Common colors include gray white.

Where is chromferide found?+

Notable localities include Southern Ural Mountains, Russia (type locality).

What rocks look like chromferide?+

Chromferide is most often confused with Iron, Kamacite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with chromferide?+

Chromferide commonly co-occurs with Iron, Copper, Bismuth, Gold, Ferchromide, Graphite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does chromferide form in?+

Where it forms: In quartz veins within brecciated amphibolites and schist. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is chromferide used for?+

Chromferide is used in research, collector.

Find chromferide on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.