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niccolite

posted on Oct 22, 2008 07:02PM

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an ore mineral of nickel, nickel arsenide (NiAs). It is commonly found associated with other nickel arsenides and sulfides, as in the Natsume nickel deposits, Japan; Andreas-Berg, Ger.; Sudbury, Ont.; and Silver Cliff, Colo. Niccolite is classified in a group of sulfide minerals that exhibit a characteristic hexagonal structure. The name, a derivative of the German word Kupfernickel, is a reference to subterranean imps (Nickel) who teased miners. For detailed physical properties, see (table).


Sulfide minerals
name colour lustre Mohs hardness specific gravity habit or form fracture or cleavage refractive indices or polished section data crystal system
argentite blackish lead-gray metallic 2–2 1/2 7.2–7.4 cubic or octahedral crystals, often in groups; arborescent or hairlike massive subconchoidal fracture faintly anisotropic isometric
arsenopyrite silver-white to steel-gray metallic 5 1/2–6 6.1 cubic or dodecahedral crystals having rough or curved faces; granular or compact massive one distinct cleavage strongly anisotropic monoclinic
bornite copper-red to pinchbeck-brown, tarnishing quickly to iridescent purple metallic 3 5.1 prismatic crystals; columnar, granular, or compact massive uneven fracture isotropic in part; pinkish brown isometric
chalcocite blackish lead-gray metallic 2 1/2–3 5.5–5.8 short prismatic or thick tabular crystals; massive conchoidal fracture weakly anisotropic orthorhombic
chalcopyrite brass-yellow, often tarnished and iridescent metallic 3 1/2–4 4.1–4.3 compact massive; tetragonal crystals uneven fracture weakly anisotropic; often shows lamellar and polysynthetic twinning tetragonal
cinnabar cochineal-red to brownish or lead-gray adamantine to metallic 2–2 1/2 8.1 rhombohedral, tabular, or prismatic crystals; massive; earthy coatings one perfect cleavage omega = 2.756–2.905
epsilon = 3.065–3.256		 hexagonal
cobaltite silver-white to red; steel-gray or grayish black metallic 5 1/2 6.3 cubic or pyritohedral crystals with striated faces one perfect cleavage isometric
covellite indigo-blue; highly iridescent; brass-yellow or deep red submetallic to resinous (crystals); subresinous to dull (massive) 1 1/2–2 4.6–4.8 massive; rarely in hexagonal plates one highly perfect cleavage strongly anisotropic hexagonal
cubanite brass- to bronze-yellow metallic 3 1/2 4.0–4.2 thick tabular crystals; massive conchoidal fracture anisotropic orthorhombic
domeykite tin-white to steel-gray; tarnishes yellowish brown, becoming iridescent metallic 3–3 1/2 7.2–7.9 reniform or botryoidal masses uneven fracture isotropic isometric
galena lead-gray metallic 2 1/2–3 7.6 cubic crystals; cleavable masses one perfect cleavage isotropic isometric
greenockite various shades of yellow and orange adamantine to resinous 3–3 1/2 4.9 earthy coating conchoidal fracture omega = 2.431–2.506 epsilon = 2.456–2.529 hexagonal
krennerite silver-white to light brass-yellow metallic 2–3 8.6 short prismatic crystals one perfect cleavage strongly anisotropic; creamy white orthorhombic
linnaeite light gray to steel- or violet-gray, tarnishing to copper-red or violet-gray brilliant metallic (when fresh) 4 1/2–5 1/2 4.5–4.8 octahedral crystals granular to compact masses uneven to subconchoidal fracture isotropic isometric
loellingite silver-white to steel-gray metallic 5–5 1/2 7.4–7.5 prismatic or pyramidal crystals; massive uneven fracture very strongly anisotropic orthorhombic
marcasite tin-white, deepening with exposure to bronze-yellow metallic 6–6 1/2 4.9 tabular or pyramidal crystals; spear-shaped or cockscomb-like crystal groups one distinct cleavage strongly anisotropic and pleochroic; creamy white, light yellowish white, and rosy white orthorhombic
maucherite reddish platinum-gray, tarnishing copper-red metallic 5 8.0 tabular crystals uneven fracture weakly anisotropic; pinkish gray tetragonal
metacinnabar grayish black metallic 3 7.65 tetrahedral crystals; massive subconchoidal to uneven fracture isotropic; grayish white; shows lamellar twinning isometric
millerite pale brass-yellow, tarnishing iridescent gray metallic 3–3 1/2 5.3–5.7 very slender to capillary crystals in radiating groups, sometimes interwoven two perfect cleavages strongly anisotropic hexagonal
molybdenite lead-gray metallic 1–1 1/2 4.6–4.7 hexagonal tablets; foliated massive, in scales one perfect cleavage very strongly anisotropic and pleochroic; white hexagonal
niccolite pale copper-red, tarnishing gray to blackish metallic 5–5 1/2 7.8 reniform massive; also branching no cleavage strongly anisotropic hexagonal
orpiment lemon-yellow, golden-yellow, brownish yellow resinous; pearly on cleavages 1 1/2–2 3.5 foliated, fibrous, or columnar massive; reniform or botryoidal masses; granular one perfect cleavage alpha = 2.4
beta = 2.81
gamma = 3.02		 monoclinic
pentlandite light bronze-yellow metallic 3 1/2–4 4.6–5.0 granular aggregates conchoidal fracture isotropic isometric
pyrite pale brass-yellow splendent to glistening metallic 6–6 1/2 5.0 cubic, pyritohedral, or octahedral crystals with striated faces; massive conchoidal to uneven fracture isotropic; creamy white isometric
pyrrhotite bronze-yellow to pinchbeck-brown, tarnishing quickly metallic 3 1/2–4 1/2 4.6–4.7
4.8 (troilite)		 granular massive; sometimes platy or tabular crystals uneven to subconchoidal fracture strongly anisotropic hexagonal
realgar aurora-red to orange-yellow resinous to greasy 1 1/2–2 3.5–3.6 short, striated prismatic crystals; granular or compact massive; incrustations one good cleavage, three less so alpha = 2.486–2.538
beta = 2.602–2.684
gamma = 2.620–2.704		 monoclinic
rickardite purple-red metallic 3 1/2 7.5 massive irregular fracture strongly anisotropic and pleochroic orthorhombic
sphalerite brown, black, yellow; also variable resinous to adamantine 3 1/2–4 3.9–4.1 tetrahedral or dodecahedral crystals, often with curved faces; cleavable masses one perfect cleavage n = 2.320–2.517 isometric
stannite steel-gray to iron-black metallic 4 4.3–4.5 granular massive uneven fracture anisotropic tetragonal
stibnite lead- to steel-gray, tarnishing blackish metallic 2 4.6 aggregates of needle-like crystals; crystals are easily bent or twisted one perfect cleavage alpha = 3.184–3.204
beta = 4.036–4.056
gamma = 4.293–4.313
white; strongly anisotropic		 orthorhombic
stromeyerite dark steel-gray, tarnishing blue metallic 2 1/2–3 6.2–6.3 pseudohexagonal prisms; compact massive subconchoidal to conchoidal fracture strongly anisotropic orthorhombic
sylvanite steel-gray to silver-white brilliant metallic 1 1/2–2 8.1–8.2 short prismatic, thick tabular, or bladed crystals one perfect cleavage strongly anisotropic and pleochroic; creamy white; shows polysynthetic twinning monoclinic
tetradymite pale steel-gray, tarnishing dull or iridescent metallic 1 1/2–2 7.1–7.5 foliated to granular massive; bladed crystals one perfect cleavage weakly anisotropic; white; sometimes shows a graph-like intergrowth hexagonal
umangite dark cherry-red, tarnishing quickly to violet-blue metallic 3 5.6 small grains; fine-grained aggregates uneven fracture strongly anisotropic; dark red-violet; apparently uniaxial tetragonal
wurtzite brownish black resinous 3 1/2–4 4.0–4.1 pyramidal crystals; fibrous or columnar massive; concentrically banded crusts one easy cleavage omega = 2.330–2.356 epsilon = 2.350–2.378 hexagonal
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