Dymkovite is an extremely rare nickel arsenate mineral occurring as thin crusts or small crystalline aggregates. It is primarily identified by its characteristic bright green color and close association with other nickel-bearing oxidation products in arsenic-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this dymkovite?
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 dymkovite with a known reference. Dymkovite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Dymkovite leaves a light green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dymkovite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, aggregates of small platy crystals.
Often confused with
Dymkovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Dymkovite leaves light green, Annabergite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Dymkovite and pearly, vitreous on Annabergite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Dymkovite leaves light green, Erythrite leaves pale pink; luster reads pearly on Dymkovite and adamantine to pearly on Erythrite.
Often found alongside dymkovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dymkovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₂As₂O₇·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 2.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Green
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Aggregates of Small Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Hydrothermal Nickel-arsenide Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find dymkovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dymkovskoye occurrence, Kirov, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of hydrothermal nickel-arsenide deposits country — that is the host setting where dymkovite typically forms. If you start seeing arsenolite, nickelskutterudite, proustite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, aggregates of small platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find dymkovite on the map
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