Orickite is a rare copper-iron sulfide mineral typically found as fine-grained masses rather than distinct crystals. It is primarily identified through mineralogical analysis and is a prized find for advanced mineral collectors seeking rare sulfide species.
Is this orickite?
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 orickite with a known reference. Orickite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Orickite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Orickite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, black, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: fine-grained massive aggregates, microcrystalline.
Often confused with
Orickite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chalcopyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Orickite leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Orickite leaves black, Bornite leaves greyish black.
How to tell apart: Cubanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5).
Often found alongside orickite
Minerals reported to co-occur with orickite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuFeS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 4.6-4.7 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Fine-grained Massive Aggregates, Microcrystalline
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Sulfide Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen depending on size and rarity
Where rockhounds find orickite
Classic worldwide localities
- Orick, California, USA
- various copper-iron sulfide occurrences
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, sulfide deposits country — that is the host setting where orickite typically forms. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, pyrite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fine-grained massive aggregates, microcrystalline habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find orickite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
