Siderazot is an extremely rare iron nitride mineral primarily found as a sublimation product near volcanic vents. It typically appears as thin black crusts or coatings on volcanic rocks, often associated with other fumarolic minerals like hematite or magnetite. Collectors usually seek it as a significant mineralogical curiosity from volcanic localities like Mount Etna.
Is this siderazot?
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 siderazot with a known reference. Siderazot sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Siderazot leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Siderazot typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: crusts, films, or coatings.
Often confused with
Siderazot vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Magnetite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 3-4).
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs — Siderazot leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Siderazot and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside siderazot
Minerals reported to co-occur with siderazot. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₅N₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Films, Or Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Fumaroles
- Typical price
- $50-300 for microscopic/small specimens
Where rockhounds find siderazot
Classic worldwide localities
- Mount Etna, Italy
- Vesuvius, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic fumaroles country — that is the host setting where siderazot typically forms. If you start seeing hematite, magnetite, tenorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, films, or coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find siderazot on the map
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