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. Heazlewoodite leaves a blackish streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Heazlewoodite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brass-yellow, bronze-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or as rare small crystals.
Often confused with
Heazlewoodite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Heazlewoodite leaves blackish, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Heazlewoodite leaves blackish, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Heazlewoodite leaves blackish, Millerite leaves bright 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
- 5.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Blackish
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or as Rare Small Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Serpentinized Ultramafic Rocks and Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find heazlewoodite
Classic worldwide localities
- Heazlewood River, Tasmania, Australia
- Norilsk, Russia
- Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Kambalda, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in serpentinized ultramafic rocks and hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where heazlewoodite typically forms. If you start seeing serpentine, magnetite, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or as rare small crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find heazlewoodite on the map
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