Dwornikite is a rare nickel-rich sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary weathering product in mine tailings. It generally appears as fine-grained crusts or fibrous efflorescences, making it difficult to identify without laboratory analysis. It is most frequently encountered by collectors focusing on secondary sulfate minerals from historic mining districts.
Is this dwornikite?
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 dwornikite with a known reference. Dwornikite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Dwornikite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dwornikite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, pale green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Dwornikite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside dwornikite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dwornikite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ni,Fe,Mg)SO₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None Reported
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Nickel-sulfide Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find dwornikite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dwornik deposit, Poland
- Various nickel-sulfide mine tailings
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of nickel-sulfide ore deposits country — that is the host setting where dwornikite typically forms. If you start seeing retgersite, morenosite, nickel-bearing sulfides in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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How much is dwornikite worth?+
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Find dwornikite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
