Heazlewoodite is a rare nickel sulfide typically found in serpentinized ultramafic rocks as metallic, brass-yellow masses or grains. It is most famous for its occurrence in the Heazlewood River district of Tasmania, where it was first identified as a distinct mineral species. Collectors should look for its distinctive yellow metallic luster and association with secondary nickel minerals in hydrothermally altered environments.
Is this heazlewoodite?
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 heazlewoodite with a known reference. Heazlewoodite 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. Streak: light bronze.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brass yellow, light bronze.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: disseminated, massive.
Often confused with
Heazlewoodite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Heazlewoodite leaves light bronze, Pentlandite leaves pale bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Heazlewoodite leaves light bronze, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grayish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Heazlewoodite leaves light bronze, Millerite leaves greenish black.
Often found alongside heazlewoodite
Minerals reported to co-occur with heazlewoodite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₃S₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.82 g/cm³
- Colors
- Brass yellowLight bronze
- Streak
- Light bronze
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Disseminated, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In serpentinized dunites and lherzolites, and in ophiolites, probably of hydrothermal origin; in layered mafic intrusives nd chromitites, where it may be a low-temperature secondary mineral; in mantle xenoliths
Where rockhounds find heazlewoodite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cedar Hill quarry, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, USA
- Josephine Co., Oregon, USA
- Dorleska mine, Trinity Co., California, USA
- Lord Brassey mine, near Heazlewood (type locality), and at Trial Harbour, Tasmania, Australia
- Miles Ridge, Yukon Territory, Canada
- Marbridge mine, Malartic, La Motte Township, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In serpentinized dunites and lherzolites, and in ophiolites, probably of hydrothermal origin; in layered mafic intrusives nd chromitites, where it may be a low-temperature secondary mineral; in mantle xenoliths. If you start seeing pentlandite, chalcopyrite, violarite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: disseminated, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify heazlewoodite?+
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Is heazlewoodite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like heazlewoodite?+
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Find heazlewoodite on the map
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