Native silicon is an incredibly rare mineral that occurs as small, metallic-grey grains or aggregates. It is predominantly found in unique geological environments such as deep-seated volcanic vents or certain gold-bearing deposits, appearing significantly different from man-made industrial silicon.
Is this native silicon?
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 silicon with a known reference. Native Silicon sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Silicon leaves a grey streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Silicon typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, blue-gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: grains, massive, rarely micro-crystalline.
Often confused with
Native Silicon vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native silicon
Minerals reported to co-occur with native silicon. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Si
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grey
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Grains, Massive, Rarely Micro-crystalline
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Volcanic Exhalations
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find native silicon
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia
- USA
- Papua New Guinea
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, volcanic exhalations country — that is the host setting where native silicon typically forms. If you start seeing gold, magnetite, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a grains, massive, rarely micro-crystalline habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native silicon on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
