Dzharkenite is a very rare iron selenide mineral that typically occurs as small, metallic grains within hydrothermal veins. It is visually similar to pyrite but is distinguished by its specific occurrence in selenium-rich environments and its distinct chemical composition.
Is this dzharkenite?
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 dzharkenite with a known reference. Dzharkenite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic to adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: crystalline.
Often confused with
Dzharkenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 5); streak differs, so Dzharkenite leaves black, Pyrite leaves greenish black to brownish black.
How to tell apart: Marcasite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 5); streak differs, so Dzharkenite leaves black, Marcasite leaves grayish or brownish black.
Often found alongside dzharkenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dzharkenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeSe₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 7.34 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic to adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific study
- Host rock
- In Se–U ores in quartz-sandstone (Seluchekinskoye deposit, Kazakhstan); in a massive sulfide deposit (Zapadno-Ozernoe deposit, Russia)
Where rockhounds find dzharkenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Seluchekinskoye deposit, near the middle Ili River, southeastern Kazakhstan (type locality)
- Zapadno-Ozernoe Cu–Zn deposit, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In Se–U ores in quartz-sandstone (Seluchekinskoye deposit, Kazakhstan); in a massive sulfide deposit (Zapadno-Ozernoe deposit, Russia). If you start seeing ferroselite, goethite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dzharkenite?+
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Is dzharkenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like dzharkenite?+
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Find dzharkenite on the map
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