Jamborite is a rare nickel-bearing mineral that typically forms as delicate, fibrous crusts or earthy coatings on sulfide ore surfaces. It is most commonly found in the oxidation zones of nickel-rich hydrothermal deposits, often appearing as a weathering product of millerite.
Is this jamborite?
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 jamborite with a known reference. Jamborite 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. Jamborite leaves a light green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jamborite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, crusts, or coatings.
Often confused with
Jamborite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Gartrellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4 vs. 2); streak differs — Jamborite leaves light green, Gartrellite leaves pale green; luster reads dull on Jamborite and vitreous on Gartrellite.
How to tell apart: Bunsenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Jamborite leaves light green, Bunsenite leaves greenish black; luster reads dull on Jamborite and vitreous on Bunsenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jamborite leaves light green, Annabergite leaves pale green; luster reads dull on Jamborite and pearly, vitreous on Annabergite.
Often found alongside jamborite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jamborite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₁₂(OH)₁₈(SO₄,CO₃,OH)₅·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Green
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Aggregates, Crusts, Or Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Nickel-sulfide Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find jamborite
Classic worldwide localities
- Thompson mine, Manitoba, Canada
- Kambalda, Western Australia
- Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in nickel-sulfide ore deposits country — that is the host setting where jamborite typically forms. If you start seeing millerite, violarite, pentlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous aggregates, crusts, or coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find jamborite on the map
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