Native iron is a rare occurrence of naturally occurring iron metal, often found in basaltic rocks or associated with meteorite impact events. Collectors should look for a heavy, magnetic specimen with a metallic luster that readily oxidizes when exposed to moisture. Because terrestrial native iron is extremely scarce, many specimens in the hobby are metallic inclusions found within meteorites.
Is this native iron?
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 native iron with a known reference. Native Iron sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray, iron black, dark gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: disseminated, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Native Iron vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Magnetite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Native Iron leaves gray, Magnetite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Hematite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 4); streak differs, so Native Iron leaves gray, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown.
Often found alongside native iron
Minerals reported to co-occur with native iron. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 7.3-7.87 g/cm³
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Disseminated, granular, massive
- Cleavage
- {001}; parting on {112}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- Rare in igneous rocks, especially basalts; in carbonaceous sediments; in volcanic fumaroles; and in petrified wood, mixed with “limonite” and organic matter
Where rockhounds find native iron
Classic worldwide localities
- Cameron, Clinton Co., Missouri, USA
- New Brunswick, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
- Fortune Bay, Mellemfjord, Asuk, on the west coast, Greenland
- Disko Island, near Uivfaq and Kitdlı̂t, Greenland
- Ben Bhreck, Scotland
- Bühl, near Weimar, Hesse, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rare in igneous rocks, especially basalts; in carbonaceous sediments; in volcanic fumaroles; and in petrified wood, mixed with “limonite” and organic matter. If you start seeing pyrite, magnetite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: disseminated, granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify native iron?+
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What rocks look like native iron?+
What minerals are found with native iron?+
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Find native iron on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
