Gersdorffite is a nickel sulfarsenide mineral often found in hydrothermal nickel-cobalt vein deposits. Collectors prize it for its sharp, metallic octahedral crystals, though it is frequently found in massive or granular aggregates alongside other sulfide minerals.
Is this gersdorffite?
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 gersdorffite with a known reference. Gersdorffite sits at Mohs 5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver white, gray, grayish black, tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, massive, tabular.
Often confused with
Gersdorffite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Gersdorffite leaves grayish black, Arsenopyrite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Gersdorffite leaves grayish black, Skutterudite leaves black.
Often found alongside gersdorffite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gersdorffite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiAsS
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 5.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, massive, tabular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of nickel
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal vein deposits formed at medium temperatures
Where rockhounds find gersdorffite
Classic worldwide localities
- Snowbird mine, Mineral Co., Montana, USA
- Schladming, 64 km southeast of Salzburg, Styria (type locality), and at Olsa, Freisach, Carinthia, Austria
- Müsen, Wissen, and Ramsbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Lobenstein, Thuringia, Germany
- Bad Ems and Dillenburg, Hesse, Germany
- Rammelsberg mine, near Goslar, and at Wolfsberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal vein deposits formed at medium temperatures. If you start seeing nickeline, nickel-skutterudite, cobaltite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, massive, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gersdorffite on the map
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