Arsenohauchecornite is a rare nickel bismuth arsenic sulfosalt, typically bronze. It occurs in hydrothermal Ni-Co-Cu sulfide veins. It was first described from Vermilion mine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Is this arsenohauchecornite?
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 arsenohauchecornite with a known reference. Arsenohauchecornite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Arsenohauchecornite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Arsenohauchecornite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Arsenohauchecornite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hauchecornite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4).
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Arsenohauchecornite leaves black, Pyrite leaves greenish-black to brownish-black.
Often found alongside arsenohauchecornite
Minerals reported to co-occur with arsenohauchecornite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₁₈Bi₃AsS₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 6.35 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Sulfide Veins
Where rockhounds find arsenohauchecornite
Classic worldwide localities
- Friedrichssegen mine, Germany
- Gedrite mine, Norway
- Sudbury district, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal sulfide veins country, the host setting where arsenohauchecornite typically forms. If you start seeing gersdorffite, millerite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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