Chromite is the primary ore of chromium and is typically found as black, opaque masses or octahedral crystals in ultramafic rocks. It is weakly magnetic and can be distinguished from magnetite by its characteristic dark brown streak and lack of strong magnetism. Collectors often look for well-defined octahedral crystals associated with green serpentine matrix.
Is this chromite?
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 chromite with a known reference. Chromite 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. Chromite leaves a dark brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chromite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Chromite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Chromite leaves dark brown, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Chromite and metallic on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Chromite leaves dark brown, Manaccanite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Chromite leaves dark brown, Franklinite leaves reddish-brown; luster reads submetallic on Chromite and metallic on Franklinite.
Often found alongside chromite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chromite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeCr₂O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.5-4.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Industrial, Collector
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Igneous Rocks Like Peridotite and Dunite
- Typical price
- $5-30 thumbnail, $20-100 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find chromite
17 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bushveld Complex, South Africa
- Great Dyke, Zimbabwe
- Kempirsai Massif, Kazakhstan
- Stillwater Complex, USA
- Oman
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic igneous rocks like peridotite and dunite country — that is the host setting where chromite typically forms. If you start seeing olivine, serpentine, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in California, Maryland, North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find chromite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
