Awaruite
Sommaire
COLOR
Rather pure white: possibly with a very weak creamy tint. Takes a good polish.
REFLECTANCE
Very high. Slightly lower than precious metals and native antimony. Somewhat higher than iron; definitely higher than pentlandite.
ANISOTROPISM
Isotropic.
TEXTURE
Awaruite occurs in serpentinized peridotites where it is associated with nickel minerals, in particular pentlandite, millerite, bravoite. Is also frequently associated with native copper with which it may form myrmekitic intergrowths. Its temperature of formation is probably below 200°C.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS
Pentlandite, millerite, chromite, magnetite.
CRITERIA OF DETERMINATION
Most unlikely to be misidentified because of the nature of the deposit and association with nickel minerals. The hardness, very high reflectance and highly magnetic nature are characteristic. Could possibly be confused with platinum because of a similar geological environment but platinum is not as closely associated with nickel minerals as is awaruite.
Source
ATLAS OF ORE MINERALS (P. Picot and Z. Johan)