Droninoite is an extremely rare nickel-iron hydroxy-chloride mineral first identified within the weathering crust of the Dronino iron meteorite. It typically occurs as dark green to brown thin, tabular crystals often found associated with other secondary iron oxidation products in meteorite impact debris.

Hardness

1-1.5

Mohs

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareHydrotalcite Group family

Droninoite

Hardness: 1-1.5
Transparency: Transparent

No image

Is this droninoite?

3-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 droninoite with a known reference. Droninoite sits at Mohs 1-1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: dark green, brown.
3
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: friable.

Often confused with

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

Often found alongside droninoite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ni₆Fe³⁺₂Cl₂(OH)₁₆·4H₂O
Mohs hardness: 1-1.5
Density: 2.857 g/cm³
Colors: Dark green Brown
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Friable
Cleavage: None observed
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a fragment of a weathered iron meteorite

Where rockhounds find droninoite

Classic worldwide localities

Dronino village, Kasimov District, Ryazan Oblast, 350 km south-east of Moscow, Russia (type locality)

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a fragment of a weathered iron meteorite. If you start seeing taenite, violarite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: friable. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify droninoite?+

Mohs hardness is 1-1.5. Common colors include dark green, brown.

Where is droninoite found?+

Notable localities include Dronino village, Kasimov District, Ryazan Oblast, 350 km south-east of Moscow, Russia (type locality).

Is droninoite safe to handle?+

Droninoite contains nickel. Contains nickel, which is a known skin sensitizer and potentially toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust; handle with care and wash hands after contact.

What rocks look like droninoite?+

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

What minerals are found with droninoite?+

Droninoite commonly co-occurs with Taenite, Violarite, Troilite, Chromite, Goethite, Lepidocrocite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does droninoite form in?+

Where it forms: In a fragment of a weathered iron meteorite. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is droninoite used for?+

Droninoite is used in collector.

Find droninoite on the map

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