Népouite is a nickel-rich phyllosilicate mineral belonging to the serpentine group, often occurring in compact, earthy masses. Collectors prize it for its vibrant apple-green color, which is characteristic of nickel-bearing secondary minerals found in weathered ultramafic zones.
Is this népouite?
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 népouite with a known reference. Népouite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: greenish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale green, deep green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy, pseudo hexagonal.
Often confused with
Népouite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chrysoprase is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Népouite leaves greenish white, Chrysoprase leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Népouite leaves greenish white, Chrysocolla leaves white when pure.
Often found alongside népouite
Minerals reported to co-occur with népouite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.24 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale greenDeep green
- Streak
- Greenish white
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy, pseudo hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Good on {001}; good on {010}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of nickel
- Host rock
- An alteration product of nickel-rich ultramafic rocks
Where rockhounds find népouite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kalkar quarry, Santa Cruz Co., California, USA
- Reis II mine, Népoui, New Caledonia
- Nakety, and at Thio, New Caledonia
- Pavlos, Greece
- Tyulenevsk Formation, Ural Mountains, Russia
- Letovice, Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of nickel-rich ultramafic rocks. If you start seeing serpentine, chlorite, hydrous nickel silicates in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, pseudo hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find népouite on the map
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