Hauchecornite is a rare nickel bismuth sulfide mineral that typically forms in small, metallic bronze-yellow crystals. It is most often found in complex hydrothermal veins associated with other nickel-bearing minerals, requiring professional identification due to its similarity to common sulfides.
Is this hauchecornite?
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 hauchecornite with a known reference. Hauchecornite 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: gray-black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: lively metallic on fresh break.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, brown, dark.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic, tabular.
Often confused with
Hauchecornite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hauchecornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Hauchecornite leaves gray-black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish black; luster reads lively metallic on fresh break on Hauchecornite and metallic on Chalcopyrite.
How to tell apart: Hauchecornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Hauchecornite leaves gray-black, Pentlandite leaves pale bronze-brown; luster reads lively metallic on fresh break on Hauchecornite and metallic on Pentlandite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hauchecornite leaves gray-black, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grayish black; luster reads lively metallic on fresh break on Hauchecornite and metallic on Pyrrhotite.
Often found alongside hauchecornite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hauchecornite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₉BiSbS₈
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 6.35-6.47 g/cm³
- Streak
- Gray-black
- Luster
- Lively metallic on fresh break
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find hauchecornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Friedrich mine, near Wissen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing millerite, bismuthian-arsenian ullmannite, antimonian gersdorffite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hauchecornite?+
Where is hauchecornite found?+
Is hauchecornite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hauchecornite?+
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Find hauchecornite on the map
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