Wilkmanite is a rare nickel selenide belonging to the pentlandite group, typically found as small grains or massive aggregates within hydrothermal deposits. It is recognized for its metallic white-to-gray luster and is most often associated with other rare selenium-bearing minerals in specialized geological settings.
Is this wilkmanite?
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 wilkmanite with a known reference. Wilkmanite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wilkmanite leaves a grayish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wilkmanite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive.
Often confused with
Wilkmanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wilkmanite leaves grayish black, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wilkmanite leaves grayish black, Troilite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Wilkmanite leaves grayish black, Clausthalite leaves gray-black.
Often found alongside wilkmanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wilkmanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₃Se₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Selenium-rich Environments
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find wilkmanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kuusamo, Finland
- Hope Bay, Canada
- Placerville, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in selenium-rich environments country — that is the host setting where wilkmanite typically forms. If you start seeing clausthalite, berzelianite, uraninite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wilkmanite on the map
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