Nickenichite is a rare arsenate mineral found as small, fragile platy crystals within the cavities of volcanic rocks in the Eifel region of Germany. It is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare volcanic species and requires careful handling due to its arsenic content.
Is this nickenichite?
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 nickenichite with a known reference. Nickenichite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish blue, light blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic.
Often confused with
Nickenichite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Wadeite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3); luster reads vitreous on Nickenichite and adamantine on Wadeite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nickenichite leaves white, Liroconite leaves pale blue to pale green.
Often found alongside nickenichite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nickenichite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Ca₀.₅Cu₀.₅)MgMg₂(AsO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.06 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic
- Cleavage
- {010}, perfect; {100}, {101}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a cavity in volcanic scoria
Where rockhounds find nickenichite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nickenicher Sattel volcano, Eifel district, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a cavity in volcanic scoria. If you start seeing vanadinite, duhamelite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nickenichite?+
Where is nickenichite found?+
Is nickenichite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like nickenichite?+
What minerals are found with nickenichite?+
What kind of rock does nickenichite form in?+
What is nickenichite used for?+
Find nickenichite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
