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, so 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, so 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, 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.
