Smythite is a rare iron sulfide mineral that typically forms as bronze to brownish platy crystals or granular masses. It is primarily found in sedimentary environments, notably within limestone and shale, and is physically quite similar to common pyrrhotite, often requiring laboratory identification to distinguish.
Is this smythite?
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 smythite with a known reference. Smythite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Smythite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Smythite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, brown, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Smythite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside smythite
Minerals reported to co-occur with smythite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Ni)₉S₁₁
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Rocks, Specifically Limestone and Shale
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find smythite
Classic worldwide localities
- Indiana, USA
- California, USA
- Norway
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary rocks, specifically limestone and shale country — that is the host setting where smythite typically forms. If you start seeing pyrrhotite, calcite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, granular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find smythite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
