Paragersdorffite is a rare nickel arsenic sulfide belonging to the gersdorffite group, typically occurring in hydrothermal deposits associated with other nickel and cobalt minerals. Collectors should look for its metallic, silver-white appearance that often tarnishes to a duller gray over time. Due to its arsenic content, it is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors and requires careful storage and handling.
Is this paragersdorffite?
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 paragersdorffite with a known reference. Paragersdorffite sits at Mohs 5.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Paragersdorffite leaves a grayish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Paragersdorffite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver-white, steel-gray, lead-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rarely as octahedrons and cubes.
Often confused with
Paragersdorffite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Paragersdorffite leaves grayish-black, Arsenopyrite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Paragersdorffite leaves grayish-black, Cobaltite leaves greyish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Paragersdorffite leaves grayish-black, Ullmannite leaves black.
Often found alongside paragersdorffite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paragersdorffite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NiAsS
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 6.0-6.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rarely as Octahedrons and Cubes
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Mineralogical Study
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Nickel-cobalt-arsenic Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find paragersdorffite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schladming, Austria
- Harz Mountains, Germany
- Sudbury, Canada
- Cobalt, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal nickel-cobalt-arsenic veins country — that is the host setting where paragersdorffite typically forms. If you start seeing niccolite, gersdorffite, pyrrhotite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rarely as octahedrons and cubes habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find paragersdorffite on the map
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