Awaruite (154.17g)

specimen number:
2262200

location:
Josephine Co., Oregon, USA

description:

An exceptionally large nugget of awaruite, also known as josephinite. This weighs 154.17 g. An impressive large example for this mineral.

Awaruite, historically known in the Pacific Northwest as josephinite, is a rare natural nickel-iron alloy found primarily within the Josephine Creek district of Josephine County, Oregon. Geologically, this mineral occurs within the Josephine Peridotite, a massive ophiolite sequence where the hydration of ultramafic rocks (serpentinization) under highly reducing conditions triggered the precipitation of native metals instead of oxides or sulfides. These native alloy grains, often appearing as smooth, heavy, metallic gray to brownish pebbles, were liberated from their parent peridotite and serpentinite matrices by erosion and subsequently concentrated into alluvial placer deposits. Historically, while never the primary focus of large-scale industrial quarrying, josephinite was recovered as a significant byproduct of placer gold mining and hydraulic operations along Josephine Creek and its tributaries starting in the 1850s. The most intense period of discovery and mineralogical interest occurred between the 1870s and the early 20th century, following the formal description of the material by W.H. Melville in 1892.

Ward's Natural Science Establishment, founded in 1862 by Henry Augustus Ward in Rochester, New York, is one of the oldest and most influential scientific supply companies in the United States. Historically, it began as a pioneer in the field of taxidermy and the creation of custom geological and paleontological cabinets, rapidly becoming the primary supplier of mineral specimens, fossils, and cast reproductions to major museums and universities worldwide. The establishment played a critical role in the development of American natural history museums during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by outfitting institutions like the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History. While its early history was defined by global expeditions led by Ward himself to gather rare mineralogical and biological materials, the company transitioned its focus mid-century toward educational supplies for secondary schools and academia. Through 2026, the company continues to operate as a major provider of science education materials, and its early historical catalogs and labeled specimens remain highly collectible artifacts that document the birth of academic mineralogy and systematic natural science training in North America.

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