Roaldite is an extremely rare iron-nickel nitride mineral that occurs primarily as microscopic inclusions within iron meteorites. It is almost never found in hand-specimens and is typically identified through metallurgical analysis or electron microscopy of meteorite sections.
Is this roaldite?
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 roaldite with a known reference. Roaldite 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. Roaldite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Roaldite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: microscopic grains and inclusions.
Often confused with
Roaldite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside roaldite
Minerals reported to co-occur with roaldite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Ni)₄N
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 7.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic Grains and Inclusions
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Iron Meteorites
- Typical price
- $100-500 for microscopic samples
Where rockhounds find roaldite
Classic worldwide localities
- Youndegin meteorite, Australia
- Cape York meteorite, Greenland
- Toluca meteorite, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in iron meteorites country — that is the host setting where roaldite typically forms. If you start seeing kamacite, taenite, schreibersite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microscopic grains and inclusions habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find roaldite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
