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 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hauchecornite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hauchecornite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze-yellow, pale brass-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Hauchecornite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hauchecornite leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hauchecornite leaves black, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hauchecornite leaves black, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black.
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
- Ni₉Bi(Sb,Te)S₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.5-6.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Sulfide Veins, Nickel-copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find hauchecornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Friedrichssegen Mine, Germany
- Gedrite mine, Norway
- Lac des Iles, Canada
- Musonoi Mine, DR Congo
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal sulfide veins, nickel-copper deposits country — that is the host setting where hauchecornite typically forms. If you start seeing gersdorffite, millerite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hauchecornite on the map
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