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, so Orickite leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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.
