Nikischerite is a rare hydrated sulfate-hydroxide mineral forming thin, platy yellow to brownish crystals. It is primarily found as a secondary mineral in hydrothermal tin deposits, often forming on surfaces of siderite or quartz. Collectors prize it for its unique, delicate, pearly habit and its occurrence in complex mineral assemblages.
Is this nikischerite?
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 nikischerite with a known reference. Nikischerite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nikischerite leaves a pale grayish green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nikischerite typically shows a dull to greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, grayish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates.
Often confused with
Nikischerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Woodwardite leaves white; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Hydrotalcite leaves white; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and greasy to waxy on Hydrotalcite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nikischerite leaves pale grayish green, Zincaluminite leaves white; luster reads dull to greasy on Nikischerite and pearly on Zincaluminite.
Often found alongside nikischerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nikischerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe²⁺₆Al₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₁₈·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Grayish Green
- Luster
- Dull to Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Tabular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Tin Deposits
Where rockhounds find nikischerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Huanuni mine, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal tin deposits country, the host setting where nikischerite typically forms. If you start seeing siderite, quartz, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, tabular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nikischerite on the map
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