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, so Heazlewoodite leaves blackish, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Heazlewoodite leaves blackish, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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