Zaratite is a rare secondary nickel mineral typically found as emerald-green crusts or botryoidal coatings on chromite-bearing serpentine. It is best identified by its vibrant color and association with nickel sulfides, though true zaratite specimens are often difficult to distinguish from other amorphous nickel-bearing minerals without chemical analysis.
Is this zaratite?
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 zaratite with a known reference. Zaratite sits at Mohs 3-3.25, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zaratite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zaratite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: emerald-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, or earthy coatings.
Often confused with
Zaratite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zaratite leaves pale green, Morenosite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Bunsenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3-3.25); streak differs, so Zaratite leaves pale green, Bunsenite leaves greenish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zaratite leaves pale green, Malachite leaves light green.
Often found alongside zaratite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zaratite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₃(CO₃)(OH)₄·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.25
- Density
- 2.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Crusts, Or Earthy Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Rocks and Serpentinite
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find zaratite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pennsylvania, USA
- Scotland, UK
- Silesia, Poland
- Urals, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic rocks and serpentinite country, the host setting where zaratite typically forms. If you start seeing chromite, millerite, serpentine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, crusts, or earthy coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find zaratite on the map
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