Nisnite is an extremely rare nickel-tin intermetallic mineral discovered in British Columbia. It typically occurs as small tabular crystals or massive grains within hydrothermal vein assemblages and is prized primarily by mineralogists and advanced collectors.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrareNickel-Nickel Group family

Nisnite

Hardness: 4
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque

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Is this nisnite?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch nisnite with a known reference. Nisnite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
3
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: white, silver-white.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.

Often confused with

Nisnite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Maucherite

Mohs 5

How to tell apart: Maucherite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4).

How to tell apart: Nickeline is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 4).

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Often found alongside nisnite

Minerals reported to co-occur with nisnite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ni₃Sn
Mohs hardness: 4
Density: 9.41 g/cm³
Colors: White Silver-white
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a rodingite dike in an asbestos deposit

Where rockhounds find nisnite

Classic worldwide localities

Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Les Sources RCM, Estrie (until recently, Shipton Township, Richmond County), Quebec, Canada

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a rodingite dike in an asbestos deposit. If you start seeing chromite, diopside, grossular in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify nisnite?+

Mohs hardness is 4. Luster: metallic. Common colors include white, silver-white.

Where is nisnite found?+

Notable localities include Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Les Sources RCM, Estrie (until recently, Shipton Township, Richmond County), Quebec, Canada.

Is nisnite safe to handle?+

Nisnite contains nickel. Wash your hands afterwards, never grind or breathe the dust, and store it apart from specimens you handle often.

What rocks look like nisnite?+

Nisnite is most often confused with Maucherite, Nickeline. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with nisnite?+

Nisnite commonly co-occurs with Chromite, Diopside, Grossular, Heazlewoodite, Shandite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does nisnite form in?+

Where it forms: In a rodingite dike in an asbestos deposit. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is nisnite used for?+

Nisnite is used in collector.

Find nisnite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.