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 4-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Iron leaves a steel gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Iron typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray, iron black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, grains, rare dendritic or cubic crystals.
Often confused with
Native Iron vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Iron leaves steel gray, Magnetite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Iron leaves steel gray, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Native Iron and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
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
- 4-5
- Density
- 7.3-7.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Steel Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Grains, Rare Dendritic or Cubic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Basalt, Serpentinite, Meteorite Impact Sites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on size and provenance
Where rockhounds find native iron
Classic worldwide localities
- Disko Island, Greenland
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Bühl, Germany
- various meteorite impact sites
Field-hunting tip
Look in basalt, serpentinite, meteorite impact sites country — that is the host setting where native iron typically forms. If you start seeing magnetite, basalt, wüstite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, grains, rare dendritic or cubic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native iron on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
