Niggliite is a very rare platinum-tin telluride mineral that typically occurs as microscopic inclusions within other platinum-group minerals. Due to its scarcity and small grain size, it is almost exclusively identified through micro-analytical techniques like electron microprobe analysis rather than macroscopic observation.
Is this niggliite?
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 niggliite with a known reference. Niggliite 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: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, inclusions in platinum-group minerals.
Often confused with
Niggliite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sperrylite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3).
How to tell apart: Platinum is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Niggliite leaves black, Platinum leaves grayish white.
How to tell apart: Cooperite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. 3).
Often found alongside niggliite
Minerals reported to co-occur with niggliite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PtSn
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 13.44 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, inclusions in platinum-group minerals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In late-forming hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find niggliite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fox Gulch, Goodnews Bay, Alaska, USA
- Insizwa Cu–Ni deposit, Waterfall Gorge, Eastern Cape, South Africa (type locality)
- Monchegorsk, Kola Peninsula, and the Talnakh area, Noril’sk region, western Siberia, Russia
- Shiaonanshan, Inner Mongolia, China
- Szklary serpentinite massif, Poland
- Strathcona mine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In late-forming hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing pentlandite, chalcopyrite, bornite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, inclusions in platinum-group minerals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify niggliite?+
Where is niggliite found?+
Is niggliite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like niggliite?+
What minerals are found with niggliite?+
What kind of rock does niggliite form in?+
What is niggliite used for?+
Find niggliite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
