How osbornite forms and what produces these chemically unusual meteorites is still being studied. Since it lacks oxygen or halides, it can not be classified in any class except the elements or the sulfides . Although it lacks sulfur, it could have been classified as a sulfide as the arsenides are. But osbornite's chemical bonds are more similar to the chemical bonds in elements like sulfur and other elemental compounds such as moissanite , carlsbergite , nierite . And so we get the unsual situation were compounds such as osbornite are classified as elements .
Color is bronze yellow to golden yellow.
Luster is metallic. Crystals are opaque. Crystal Habits include small disseminated grains in meteorites. Hardness is 7. Best Field Indicator is color, source, associations and density.