Native selenium is a rare element that typically occurs as soft, metallic-looking crystals or as reddish crusts around volcanic vents. It is frequently associated with selenium sulfides and sulfoselenides, and collectors should handle it with caution due to the inherent toxicity of selenium compounds.
Is this native selenium?
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 selenium with a known reference. Native Selenium sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Selenium leaves a red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Selenium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, red, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: acicular crystals, encrustations, or powdery coatings.
Often confused with
Native Selenium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Selenium leaves red, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads metallic on Native Selenium and adamantine on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Selenium leaves red, Realgar leaves orange-red; luster reads metallic on Native Selenium and resinous on Realgar.
Often found alongside native selenium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native selenium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Se
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Red
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Encrustations, Or Powdery Coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Epithermal Hydrothermal Veins, Volcanic Fumaroles
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail depending on matrix
Where rockhounds find native selenium
Classic worldwide localities
- Hope's Nose, Torquay, England
- Kato, Japan
- Tuscany, Italy
- Zacatecas, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal hydrothermal veins, volcanic fumaroles country — that is the host setting where native selenium typically forms. If you start seeing clausthalite, umannite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, encrustations, or powdery coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native selenium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
