Osbornite is a rare titanium nitride mineral found almost exclusively in extraterrestrial environments like meteorites. It typically occurs as tiny, metallic gold-colored octahedra embedded within the matrix of enstatite chondrites.
Is this osbornite?
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 osbornite with a known reference. Osbornite sits at Mohs 8-9 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Osbornite leaves a gold-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Osbornite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gold, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, irregular grains.
Often confused with
Osbornite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Osbornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8-9 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs — Osbornite leaves gold-yellow, Gold leaves golden yellow.
How to tell apart: Osbornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8-9 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Osbornite leaves gold-yellow, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Osbornite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8-9 vs. 6-6.5); streak differs — Osbornite leaves gold-yellow, Pyrite leaves greenish-black to brownish-black.
Often found alongside osbornite
Minerals reported to co-occur with osbornite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TiN
- Mohs hardness
- 8-9
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- Gold-yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Irregular Grains
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Meteorites
- Typical price
- $500-5000+ per specimen depending on size and meteorite context
Where rockhounds find osbornite
Classic worldwide localities
- enstatite chondrite meteorites
- ureilite meteorites
- various meteorite impact sites
Field-hunting tip
Look in meteorites country — that is the host setting where osbornite typically forms. If you start seeing enstatite, kamacite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, irregular grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify osbornite?+
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Find osbornite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
