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, so Maucherite leaves greyish-black, Nickeline leaves brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Maucherite leaves greyish-black, Skutterudite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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