Liebenbergite is a very rare nickel-dominant member of the olivine group. It is primarily identified in nickel-rich geological environments where it forms through the alteration of primary ultramafic minerals.
Is this liebenbergite?
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 liebenbergite with a known reference. Liebenbergite sits at Mohs 6-6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular, massive.
Often confused with
Liebenbergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside liebenbergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with liebenbergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₂SiO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6-6.5
- Density
- 4.60 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, massive
- Cleavage
- {010}, fair to poor; {100}, poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In a small tabular nickel deposit at the contact between quartzite and serpentinized ultramafics; it appears to have formed at ~730 ° C and < 2 kbar during thermal metamorphism, possibly of a nickel-rich meteorite
Where rockhounds find liebenbergite
Classic worldwide localities
- From three km west of the Scotia Talc mine, Bon Accord, Barberton, Transvaal, South Africa (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a small tabular nickel deposit at the contact between quartzite and serpentinized ultramafics; it appears to have formed at ~730 ° C and < 2 kbar during thermal metamorphism, possibly of a nickel-rich meteorite. If you start seeing trevorite, nickeloan serpentine, nickeloan ludwigite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify liebenbergite?+
Where is liebenbergite found?+
Is liebenbergite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like liebenbergite?+
What minerals are found with liebenbergite?+
What kind of rock does liebenbergite form in?+
What is liebenbergite used for?+
Find liebenbergite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
