Orcelite is a very rare nickel arsenide typically found as small, irregular inclusions within serpentinized ultramafic rocks. It is identified by its distinct pale bronze metallic luster and association with other nickel-rich phases. Due to its scarcity and arsenic content, it is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors of rare species.
Is this orcelite?
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 orcelite with a known reference. Orcelite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow white, pink bronze.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Orcelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Nickeline is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Orcelite leaves black, Nickeline leaves pale brownish black.
How to tell apart: Maucherite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Orcelite leaves black, Maucherite leaves blackish gray.
Often found alongside orcelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with orcelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₄.₇₅As₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 6.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Yellow whitePink bronze
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As inclusions in pentlandite in serpentinized harzburgite
Where rockhounds find orcelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tiébaghi massif, New Caledonia (type locality)
- Table Mountain and Blow-Me-Down Mountain, Newfoundland, and in the Nipissing mine, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
- Ronda massif, at Nebral, Málaga Province, Spain
- Cliff region, Unst, Shetland, Scotland
- Kauniinvaara ultramafic lens, near Lake Kauniinlampi, eastern Finland
- Vozhmin massif, Karelia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As inclusions in pentlandite in serpentinized harzburgite. If you start seeing pentlandite, heazlewoodite, millerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify orcelite?+
Where is orcelite found?+
Is orcelite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like orcelite?+
What minerals are found with orcelite?+
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Find orcelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
