Nowackiite is a rare sulfosalt mineral primarily known from the famous Binn Valley deposits in Switzerland. It typically forms small, sharp trigonal crystals embedded in a dolomitic matrix and is highly sought after by mineral collectors due to its rarity and complex chemical composition.
Is this nowackiite?
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 nowackiite with a known reference. Nowackiite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, 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: black, lead gray, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: equant grains.
Often confused with
Nowackiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nowackiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nowackiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₆Zn₃As₄S₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermal deposit in dolostone, noted for a variety of Pb–As–S minerals
Where rockhounds find nowackiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermal deposit in dolostone, noted for a variety of Pb–As–S minerals. If you start seeing sphalerite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: equant grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nowackiite?+
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Is nowackiite safe to handle?+
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Find nowackiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
