Edscottite is a rare iron carbide mineral found exclusively within iron meteorites. It typically occurs as microscopic, granular inclusions alongside other iron-nickel phases like kamacite and schreibersite.
Is this edscottite?
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 edscottite with a known reference. Edscottite 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. Edscottite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Edscottite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Edscottite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside edscottite
Minerals reported to co-occur with edscottite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₅C₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 7.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Iron Meteorites
Where rockhounds find edscottite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wedderburn meteorite (Australia)
Field-hunting tip
Look in iron meteorites country, the host setting where edscottite typically forms. If you start seeing kamacite, schreibersite, taenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify edscottite?+
Where is edscottite found?+
What rocks look like edscottite?+
What minerals are found with edscottite?+
What kind of rock does edscottite form in?+
What is edscottite used for?+
Find edscottite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
