Kitkaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Kitkaite
Formula:
NiTeSe
Colour:
silver-white, pale yellow
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
7.22
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after the locality, the Kitka River Valley in Kuusamo in northeastern Finland.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Kitkaite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2219
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2219:0
IMA Classification of Kitkaite
Approved
First published:
1965
Classification of Kitkaite
2.EA.20
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
2.12.14.2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
3.11.23
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Kk | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Kitkaite
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver-white, pale yellow
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=110 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Parallel to (001). Often visible.
Parallel to (001). Often visible.
Density:
7.22 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.19 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Kitkaite
Anisotropism:
Distinct, from pale gray to pink or purple.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 49.4% | 53.0% |
| 420nm | 50.3% | 52.0% |
| 440nm | 51.5% | 51.6% |
| 460nm | 52.9% | 51.6% |
| 480nm | 54.4% | 52.2% |
| 500nm | 55.9% | 52.9% |
| 520nm | 57.4% | 54.0% |
| 540nm | 58.9% | 55.2% |
| 560nm | 60.2% | 56.5% |
| 580nm | 61.4% | 57.8% |
| 600nm | 62.5% | 59.1% |
| 620nm | 63.3% | 60.2% |
| 640nm | 64.1% | 61.1% |
| 660nm | 64.6% | 61.8% |
| 680nm | 65.2% | 62.4% |
| 700nm | 65.7% | 62.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 65.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Pale gray to pink or purple.
Chemistry of Kitkaite
Mindat Formula:
NiTeSe
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Co,Cu,Ag,Bi,S
Crystallography of Kitkaite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Setting:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.71 Å, c = 5.12 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.38
Unit Cell V:
61.03 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:
None observed.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.729 Å | (100) |
| 2.007 Å | (45) |
| 1.510 Å | (35) |
| 2.567 Å | (25) |
| 1.860 Å | (25) |
| 1.535 Å | (20) |
| 5.13 Å | (15) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Kitkaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive and as crystals up to 5 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 120267.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In carbonate-bearing veinlets in albitite. Intimately connected with a low-grade uranium and selenium mineralization in an albite diabase area.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Kitkaite
Relationship of Kitkaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Melonite Group:
| Berndtite | SnS2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Melonite | NiTe2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Merenskyite | PdTe2 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
| Moncheite | Pt(Te,Bi)2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Shuangfengite | IrTe2 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
| Sudovikovite | PtSe2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.EA. | Radvaniceite | GeS2 |
| 2.EA. | Zavyalovite | Ag2TeS3 |
| 2.EA.05 | Sylvanite | AgAuTe4 |
| 2.EA.10 | Calaverite | AuTe2 |
| 2.EA.15 | Kostovite | CuAuTe4 |
| 2.EA.15 | Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
| 2.EA.20 | Melonite | NiTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Merenskyite | PdTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Ognitite | NiBiTe |
| 2.EA.20 | Shuangfengite | IrTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Berndtite | SnS2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Sudovikovite | PtSe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Moncheite | Pt(Te,Bi)2 |
| 2.EA.25 | Verbeekite | PdSe2 |
| 2.EA.30 | Drysdallite | MoSe2 |
| 2.EA.30 | Jordisite | MoS2 |
| 2.EA.30 | Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| 2.EA.30 | Tungstenite | WS2 |
| 2.EA.40 | Pampaloite | AuSbTe |
Other Information
Notes:
Negative for etching with HCl, FeCl, KCN, and KOH. HNO3 positive with effervescence, HgCl2 positive with slow reaction inducing a brown tarnish.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Kitkaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2219.html
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References for Kitkaite
Reference List:
Häkli, T. A., Vuorelainen, Y., Sahama, Th. G. (1965) Kitkaite (NiTeSe), a new mineral from Kuusamo, northeast Finland. American Mineralogist, 50 (5-6) 581-586
Localities for Kitkaite
Showing 2 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Finland | |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
| Häkli et al. (1965) |
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Kitka River Valley, Kuusamo, North Ostrobothnia, Finland