Awaruite Locality: Josephine Creek, Josephine Creek District, Josephine County , Oregon , USA ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 2.2 x 1.2 x 0.9 cm. Awaruite is a nickel-iron alloy-bearing rock named after its place of origin, Josephine County in southwestern Oregon. These awaruite pebbles occur as detritus in several streams that originate and flow across the Josephine Peridotite. This pebble/nugget weighs 13 grams. It was in the Millard Grobon collection, and after that in the collection of Gene Meieran. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Awaruite
Awaruite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula Ni₃Fe.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Pm-3m). It is a member of the Perovskite, Auricupride structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5.5–6; specific gravity 7.8–8.65; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Awr, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1885.
Found in chromitite in association with ultramafic igneous rocks; in river placers, from serpentinized peridotites and ophiolites; rare in meteorites.
It is found associated with Gold, magnetite (placers); copper, heazlewoodite, pentlandite, violarite, chromite, millerite (peridotites); kamacite, allabogdanite, schreibersite.
The name is derived from the locality near Awarua Bay, New Zealand.