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. Streak: gold-yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: golden 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 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
- 5.38 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gold-yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral crystals, irregular grains
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Embedded in oldhamite in an achondrite meteorite (Bustee meteorite); as inclusions in corundum, in weathered detritus from a pipelike body containing breccias with an alkalic ultramafic cement (“Russia”)
Where rockhounds find osbornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia, from an undefined locality “near the junction of the Azov block with the Donbas”
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Embedded in oldhamite in an achondrite meteorite (Bustee meteorite); as inclusions in corundum, in weathered detritus from a pipelike body containing breccias with an alkalic ultramafic cement (“Russia”). If you start seeing oldhamite, diopside, corundum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify osbornite?+
Where is osbornite found?+
What rocks look like osbornite?+
What minerals are found with osbornite?+
What kind of rock does osbornite form in?+
What is osbornite used for?+
Find osbornite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
