Dymkovite is an extremely rare nickel arsenate mineral occurring as thin crusts or small crystalline aggregates. It is primarily identified by its characteristic bright green color and close association with other nickel-bearing oxidation products in arsenic-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this dymkovite?
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 dymkovite with a known reference. Dymkovite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, aggregates of small platy crystals.
Often confused with
Dymkovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Dymkovite and subadamantine, pearly on cleavages, may be dull, earthy on Annabergite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Dymkovite and subadamantine, pearly on cleavages on Erythrite.
Often found alongside dymkovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dymkovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni(UO₂)₂(AsO₃)₂·7H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 3.806 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, aggregates of small platy crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral found in small cavities and cracks in slightly oxidized uraninite-bearing dolomite veins
Where rockhounds find dymkovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dymkovskoye occurrence, Kirov, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral found in small cavities and cracks in slightly oxidized uraninite-bearing dolomite veins. If you start seeing rauchite, uraninite, nickeline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts, aggregates of small platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find dymkovite on the map
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