Awaruite

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)