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, so 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, so 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, so 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, 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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How much is osbornite worth?+
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Find osbornite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
