Hylbrownite is a rare nickel iron sulfide mineral typically found as small, platy crystals in association with other sulfide minerals in nickel deposits. It is primarily a collector's mineral due to its rarity and specific formation conditions in ultramafic rocks.
Is this hylbrownite?
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 hylbrownite with a known reference. Hylbrownite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hylbrownite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hylbrownite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy to tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Hylbrownite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hylbrownite leaves yellow, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown; luster reads resinous on Hylbrownite and metallic on Pentlandite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hylbrownite leaves yellow, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grey to black; luster reads resinous on Hylbrownite and metallic on Pyrrhotite.
Often found alongside hylbrownite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hylbrownite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiFe₂S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 4.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy to Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Nickel-sulfide Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find hylbrownite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kambalda, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in nickel-sulfide ore deposits country — that is the host setting where hylbrownite typically forms. If you start seeing millerite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy to tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hylbrownite on the map
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