Awaruite (Josephinite) - a rare alloy nugget ex. Cook Coll.

Item Description

A 3 gram, silvery-bright, flattened alluvial thumbnail Awaruite nugget from the Josephine Creek placers of Oregon (Arlson & Co. placers). Awariute is an intermetallic alloy of Nickel and Iron. The ultramafic and ophiolite placer Au-Ni-PGE (Pt-Ir)-Cr-Fe deposits in the area have been worked intermittently since 1852 (MINDAT). It was originally called "Josephinite" for its type locality in Oregon and is strongly magnetic. Awaruite is named for the Type Locality near Awarua Bay, New Zealand. ex Cook Collection. We feel very lucky to have picked up the large collection of Bill and Anne Cook of Cleveland, recently. It is a tribute to their long efforts, how many interesting minerals and old localities were preserved and carefully labelled so you can see them now. Bill and Anne collected for at least 60 years. Seldom on the market and a fine example of the uncommon species.