Ferhodsite is a rare iron rhodium nickel sulfide, typically white to silver-white. Associated minerals include cooperite, cuproiridsite and bowieite. It was first described from the Nizhniy Tagil, Svetlyi Bor and Veresovyi Bor massifs, Ural Mountains, Russia.
Is this ferhodsite?
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 ferhodsite with a known reference. Ferhodsite sits at Mohs 5-6, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Ferhodsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside ferhodsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ferhodsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Rh,Ni,Ir,Cu,Co,Pt)₉₋ₓS₈
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 7.186 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Well-developed on {111}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In mineral separates from dunite (Nizhniy Tagil ultramafic massif) and Au-PGE-bearing alluvial placer deposits (Konder and along the River Seyba)
Where rockhounds find ferhodsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nizhniy Tagil, Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In mineral separates from dunite (Nizhniy Tagil ultramafic massif) and Au-PGE-bearing alluvial placer deposits (Konder and along the River Seyba). If you start seeing cooperite, cuproiridsite, bowieite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ferhodsite?+
Where is ferhodsite found?+
Is ferhodsite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like ferhodsite?+
What minerals are found with ferhodsite?+
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Find ferhodsite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
