Honessite is a rare secondary nickel mineral typically found as thin, golden-yellow coatings or delicate, radiating crusts in the oxidized zones of ore deposits. It is most frequently encountered by collectors associated with millerite in localities like the Wisconsin lead-zinc districts. Due to its softness and delicate habit, it requires careful handling.
Is this honessite?
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 honessite with a known reference. Honessite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Honessite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Honessite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, golden yellow, greenish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Honessite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Honessite leaves yellow, Morenosite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Honessite and vitreous on Morenosite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Honessite leaves yellow, Retgersite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Honessite and vitreous on Retgersite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Honessite leaves yellow, Nickelhexahydrite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Honessite and vitreous on Nickelhexahydrite.
Often found alongside honessite
Minerals reported to co-occur with honessite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ni,Fe³⁺)₆(OH)₁₆(SO₄,CO₃)·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.28 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Nickel-bearing Sulfide Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen depending on size and rarity
Where rockhounds find honessite
Classic worldwide localities
- Linden, Wisconsin, USA
- Agua Blanca, Spain
- Kambalda, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of nickel-bearing sulfide deposits country — that is the host setting where honessite typically forms. If you start seeing millerite, goethite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify honessite?+
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How much is honessite worth?+
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What rocks look like honessite?+
What minerals are found with honessite?+
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Find honessite on the map
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