Nikischerite is a rare hydrated sulfate-hydroxide mineral forming thin, platy yellow to brownish crystals. It is primarily found as a secondary mineral in hydrothermal tin deposits, often forming on surfaces of siderite or quartz. Collectors prize it for its unique, delicate, pearly habit and its occurrence in complex mineral assemblages.
Is this nikischerite?
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 nikischerite with a known reference. Nikischerite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale grayish green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: micaceous, platy, radial.
Often confused with
Nikischerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Woodwardite leaves light blue; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Hydrotalcite leaves white; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and satiny to greasy or waxy on Hydrotalcite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Zincaluminite leaves white; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and pearly on Zincaluminite.
Often found alongside nikischerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nikischerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaFe₆Al₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₁₈(H₂O)₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.33 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale grayish green
- Luster
- Dull to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Micaceous, platy, radial
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {00*1}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- On and within clay matrix in a hydrothermal vein polymetallic tin deposit
Where rockhounds find nikischerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Huanuni tin mine, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: On and within clay matrix in a hydrothermal vein polymetallic tin deposit. If you start seeing pyrite, pyrrhotite, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: micaceous, platy, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nikischerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
