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
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find edscottite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wedderburn meteorite (Australia)
Field-hunting tip
Look in iron meteorites country — that is 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?+
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How much is edscottite worth?+
What rocks look like edscottite?+
What minerals are found with edscottite?+
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Find edscottite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
