Native nickel is an extremely rare terrestrial mineral that typically occurs as microscopic inclusions or grains within ultramafic rocks or as a primary component in iron-nickel meteorites. Collectors should look for a heavy, metallic silver-white mineral associated with serpentinization, though verifiable terrestrial specimens are highly sought after and difficult to obtain.
Is this native nickel?
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 nickel with a known reference. Native Nickel 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. Streak: grayish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray white, silvery white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: granular, massive.
Often confused with
Native Nickel vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Native Nickel leaves grayish white, Iron leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Native Nickel leaves grayish white, Kamacite leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Native Nickel leaves grayish white, Taenite leaves light gray.
Often found alongside native nickel
Minerals reported to co-occur with native nickel. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 8.90 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish white
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In serpentinized ultramafic rocks as a result of low-temperature hydrothermal activity
Where rockhounds find native nickel
Classic worldwide localities
- Bogota, near Canala, New Caledonia (type locality)
- Jerry River, in placers derived from the Red Hills Range, southern Westland, New Zealand
- Mount Clifford and Cutmore, near Agnew, Western Australia, and the Nairne pyrite deposit, South Australia
- Kaltenberg, Turtmauntal, Valais, Switzerland
- Kauniinvaara ultramafic lens, near Lake Kauniinlampi, eastern Finland
- Grasshopper Mountain, Tulameen, British Columbia, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In serpentinized ultramafic rocks as a result of low-temperature hydrothermal activity. If you start seeing heazlewoodite, pyrite, pyrrhotite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native nickel on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
