Ognitite is a rare nickel bismuth telluride, typically black. It occurs in dunite in zones of disseminated Cu-Ni-PGE sulfide mineralization. Associated minerals include chalcopyrite, hessite and altaite. It was first described from the Ognit (or Medek) dunite-wehrlite complex, Irkutskaya oblast, Eastern Sayans, Russia.
Is this ognitite?
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 ognitite with a known reference. Ognitite 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.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: granular, massive.
Often confused with
Ognitite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ognitite leaves black, Pentlandite leaves pale bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ognitite leaves black, Pyrrhotite leaves dark grayish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ognitite leaves black, Troilite leaves dark grayish brown.
Often found alongside ognitite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ognitite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiBiTe
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 8.75 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Granular, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- ultramafic intrusive rocks
Where rockhounds find ognitite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ognit deposit, Sayan Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: ultramafic intrusive rocks. If you start seeing pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ognitite?+
Where is ognitite found?+
Is ognitite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like ognitite?+
What minerals are found with ognitite?+
What kind of rock does ognitite form in?+
What is ognitite used for?+
Find ognitite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
