Maucherite is a rare nickel arsenide typically found in hydrothermal veins associated with other cobalt-nickel minerals. It is easily identified by its distinct copper-red metallic color which may tarnish slightly upon exposure to air.
Is this maucherite?
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 maucherite with a known reference. Maucherite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Maucherite leaves a greyish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Maucherite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: copper-red, silver-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rarely as small platy crystals.
Often confused with
Maucherite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Maucherite leaves greyish-black, Nickeline leaves brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Maucherite leaves greyish-black, Skutterudite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Maucherite leaves greyish-black, Arsenopyrite leaves black.
Often found alongside maucherite
Minerals reported to co-occur with maucherite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₁₁As₈
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 7.8-8.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Greyish-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rarely as Small Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find maucherite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
- Eisleben, Saxony, Germany
- Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Bou Azzer, Morocco
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where maucherite typically forms. If you start seeing niccolite, skutterudite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rarely as small platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find maucherite on the map
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