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 — 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 — Zaratite leaves pale green, Bunsenite leaves greenish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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