Hloušekite is a rare nickel-cobalt arsenide mineral found in association with uraninite-bearing hydrothermal veins. It typically presents as microscopic grains or small aggregates and is primarily identified via chemical analysis in a laboratory setting due to its similarity to other nickel-cobalt minerals.
Is this hloušekite?
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 hloušekite with a known reference. Hloušekite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hloušekite leaves a grayish white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hloušekite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, aggregates.
Often confused with
Hloušekite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Gersdorffite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Hloušekite leaves grayish white, Gersdorffite leaves grayish-black; luster reads vitreous on Hloušekite and metallic on Gersdorffite.
How to tell apart: Cobaltite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Hloušekite leaves grayish white, Cobaltite leaves grayish-black; luster reads vitreous on Hloušekite and metallic on Cobaltite.
How to tell apart: Skutterudite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Hloušekite leaves grayish white, Skutterudite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Hloušekite and metallic on Skutterudite.
Often found alongside hloušekite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hloušekite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ni,Co)As₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.29 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
Where rockhounds find hloušekite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jáchymov, Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where hloušekite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, arsenopyrite, nickelskutterudite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hloušekite on the map
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