Nickelbischofite is an extremely rare nickel-bearing member of the bischofite group found in evaporite environments. It typically appears as small green crusts or granular aggregates and is highly hygroscopic, requiring sealed storage to prevent decomposition.
Is this nickelbischofite?
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 nickelbischofite with a known reference. Nickelbischofite sits at Mohs 1.5, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: granular to massive.
Often confused with
Nickelbischofite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nickelbischofite leaves greenish white, Bischofite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Retgersite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Nickelbischofite leaves greenish white, Retgersite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside nickelbischofite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nickelbischofite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiCl₂·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 1.929 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular to massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As an alteration product on the surface of drill core from an ultramafic intrusion containing low-grade nickel mineralization, formed after storage (Amos, Canada); as a volcanic sublimate (Mt. Shirane, Japan)
Where rockhounds find nickelbischofite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dumont ultramafic intrusive, 27 km west of Amos, Quebec, Canada
- Mt. Shirane, Gumma Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As an alteration product on the surface of drill core from an ultramafic intrusion containing low-grade nickel mineralization, formed after storage (Amos, Canada); as a volcanic sublimate (Mt. Shirane, Japan). If you start seeing coalingite, paratacamite, pentlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular to massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nickelbischofite?+
Where is nickelbischofite found?+
Is nickelbischofite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like nickelbischofite?+
What minerals are found with nickelbischofite?+
What kind of rock does nickelbischofite form in?+
What is nickelbischofite used for?+
Find nickelbischofite on the map
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