Orcelite is a very rare nickel arsenide typically found as small, irregular inclusions within serpentinized ultramafic rocks. It is identified by its distinct pale bronze metallic luster and association with other nickel-rich phases. Due to its scarcity and arsenic content, it is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors of rare species.
Is this orcelite?
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 orcelite with a known reference. Orcelite 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. Orcelite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Orcelite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale bronze, yellowish-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Orcelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Nickeline is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Orcelite leaves black, Nickeline leaves brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Maucherite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Orcelite leaves black, Maucherite leaves greyish-black.
Often found alongside orcelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with orcelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₂As
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 7.98 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Serpentinized Ultramafic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find orcelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kempir-Sai, Kazakhstan
- Kushmurun, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in serpentinized ultramafic rocks country — that is the host setting where orcelite typically forms. If you start seeing heazlewoodite, pentlandite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find orcelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
