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, 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.
