Maucherite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Maucherite
Wilhelm Maucher, 1879-1930
Formula:
Ni11As8
May contain appreciable Co replacing Ni (Barkov et al., 2019). Also traces of Fe and Cu can be present.
Colour:
Reddish silver-white, turning darker reddish grey on exposure to air
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
7.83 - 8.00
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
After Wilhelm Maucher (1879-1930), mineralogist and mineral dealer, Munich, Germany.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2599
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2599:3
IMA Classification of Maucherite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1913
Classification of Maucherite
2.AB.15
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
B : Ni-metalloid alloys
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
B : Ni-metalloid alloys
2.16.16.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.11.26
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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Muc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Mau | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Maucherite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Reddish silver-white, turning darker reddish grey on exposure to air
Streak:
Dark grey
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=263 - 274 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.83 - 8.00 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.02 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Maucherite
Anisotropism:
Weak
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 44.2% | 44.8% |
| 420nm | 45.1% | 45.4% |
| 440nm | 46.0% | 45.9% |
| 460nm | 46.9% | 46.4% |
| 480nm | 47.6% | 46.8% |
| 500nm | 48.1% | 47.1% |
| 520nm | 48.7% | 47.6% |
| 540nm | 49.4% | 48.2% |
| 560nm | 50.2% | 49.1% |
| 580nm | 51.4% | 50.2% |
| 600nm | 52.7% | 51.5% |
| 620nm | 53.9% | 52.9% |
| 640nm | 55.1% | 54.1% |
| 660nm | 56.1% | 55.4% |
| 680nm | 57.0% | 56.4% |
| 700nm | 57.8% | 57.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 57.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Pinkish gray.
Chemistry of Maucherite
Mindat Formula:
Ni11As8
May contain appreciable Co replacing Ni (Barkov et al., 2019). Also traces of Fe and Cu can be present.
May contain appreciable Co replacing Ni (Barkov et al., 2019). Also traces of Fe and Cu can be present.
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Co,Fe,Cu,Sb,S
Crystallography of Maucherite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
422 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P41212
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.85 Å, c = 21.75 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.175
Unit Cell V:
1,020.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Massive, granular, radiating fibrous. Crystals are commonly tabular {001} or pyramidal with faces striated parallel to their intersections with {001}.
Twinning:
Twinning on {203} and {106}.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007325 | Maucherite | Makovicky E, Merlino S (2009) OD (order-disorder) character of the crystal structure of maucherite Ni8As11 European Journal of Mineralogy 21 855-862 | 2009 | modelled structure, not experimental | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000306 | Maucherite | Fleet M E (1973) The crystal structure of maucherite (Ni11As8) American Mineralogist 58 203-210 |  | 1973 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.01 Å | (100) |
| 1.713 Å | (100) |
| 2.69 Å | (90) |
| 1.212 Å | (60) |
| 1.449 Å | (50) |
| 1.108 Å | (50) |
| 1.083 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Eisleben, Germany.
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]) |
Geological Setting:
Nickel-cobalt arsenide veins.
Type Occurrence of Maucherite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Synonyms of Maucherite
Other Language Names for Maucherite
Dutch:Maucheriet
German:Maucherit
Temiskamit
Temiskamit
Russian:Маухерит
Simplified Chinese:砷镍矿
Spanish:Maucherita
Temiskamita
Temiskamita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 92 photos of Maucherite associated with Nickeline | NiAs |
| 39 photos of Maucherite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 35 photos of Maucherite associated with Nickelskutterudite | NiAs3 |
| 22 photos of Maucherite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 20 photos of Maucherite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 11 photos of Maucherite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 10 photos of Maucherite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 6 photos of Maucherite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 6 photos of Maucherite associated with Gaspéite | NiCO3 |
| 5 photos of Maucherite associated with Annabergite | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.AB.10a | Olgafrankite | Ni3Ge |
| 2.AB.10 | Orcelite | Ni5-xAs2, x ~ 0.25 |
Other Information
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 Maucherite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2599.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Maucherite
Reference List:
Peacock, M. A. (1940) On maucherite (nickel-speiss, placodine, temiskamite). Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 25 (169). 557-572 doi:10.1180/minmag.1940.025.169.06
Berry, L. G., Thompson, R. M. (1962) X-Ray Powder Data for Ore Minerals: the Peacock Atlas. GSA Memoir 85. Geological Society of America doi:10.1130/mem85pp.42-43
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-xpp.400-402
Fleet, Michael E. (1973) The crystal structure of maucherite (Ni11As8). American Mineralogist, 58 (3-4). 203-210
Criddle, A. J., Stanley, C. J. (1993) Data file. In Quantitative Data File for Ore Minerals. Springer Netherlands. p.1-635. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-1486-8_1p.359
Gritsenko, Yu. D., Spiridonov, E. M. (2008) Maucherite from metamorphic-hydrothermal assemblages of the Noril’sk ore field. Geology of Ore Deposits, 50 (7) 590-598 doi:10.1134/s1075701508070106
Makovicky, Emil, Merlino, Stefano (2009) OD (order-disorder) character of the crystal structure of maucherite Ni8As11 [sic]. European Journal of Mineralogy, 21 (4) 855-862 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2009/0021-1960
Barkov, Andrei Y., Bindi, Luca, Tamura, Nobumichi, Shvedov, Gennadiy I., Winkler, Björn, Stan, Camelia V., Morgenroth, Wolfgang, Martin, Robert F., Zaccarini, Federica, Stanley, Christopher J. (2019) Ognitite, NiBiTe, a new mineral species, and Co-rich maucherite from the Ognit ultramafic complex, Eastern Sayans, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine, 83 (5) 695-703 doi:10.1180/mgm.2019.31
Localities for Maucherite
Showing 214 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.
Albania | |
| Çina (2010) |
Argentina | |
| Las Especies Minerales de La Republica ... |
| de Brodtkorb (1973) |
Australia | |
| Degeling (1982) |
| Bottrill et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) |
| Marston (1984) |
| October 1981 +3 other references |
| Marston (1984) |
| Disseminated and Massive Nickel ... +2 other references |
| Gole et al. (2000) | |
| Grguric et al. (2013) | |
| Grguric (2003) |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Bojar (2021) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2010) |
| Kolitsch (2008) |
| Pribitzer (1956) +1 other reference |
Bolivia | |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 |
Brazil | |
| Prichard et al. (2001) |
| de Almeida et al. (2007) |
| Marchetto (1990) | |
Bulgaria | |
| Kerestedjian et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Nixon et al. (1990) |
| Vale SA |
| Phillips (1979) |
| Grammatikopoulos et al. (2007) |
| Sabina (2003) |
| Badham (1975) |
| Badham (1975) | |
| Badham et al. (1980) |
| Badham et al. (1980) | |
| Graham et al. (2026) |
| Rich et al. (1977) |
| Muir et al. (1979) +1 other reference |
| Hawley et al. (1961) |
| Molnar | |
| Hawley et al. (1961) |
| Vale SA | |
| Hawley et al. (1961) +1 other reference | |
| Ramdohr (1969) |
| Vale SA |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Peacock (1940) +2 other references | |
| Cabri et al. (1974) |
| 157-158. +1 other reference | |
| Ames et al. (2017) |
| 159-161. +1 other reference |
| Petruk et al. (1969) |
| Ontario Geological Survey Miscellaneous ... +3 other references |
| Ontario Geological Survey Miscellaneous ... +1 other reference | |
| Mielke (n.d.) | |
| Dana 7:I:193-194. +6 other references |
| Berry (1971) |
| Horváth Collection - confirmed by ... |
| Peacock (1940) +1 other reference |
| 179-181. +2 other references |
| Reiner Mielke 2013 |
| Glencore plc |
| Seabrook et al. (2004) | |
| petrology +1 other reference |
| Reyx et al. (1993) |
| David Quirt (2006) | |
| Papezik (1955) |
Chile | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2016) |
China | |
| Chengmu Fan and Chongyao Cao (1991) |
| Yang et al. (2006) |
| Jinjie Yu et al. (2013) |
| Keevil et al. (2022) |
| USGS Open-File Report 03-220 |
| Han et al. (2020) |
| Yang et al. (2018) |
| Zhu et al. (2016) |
Cuba | |
| Gevilla et al. (2005) |
| Gevilla et al. (2005) | |
Cyprus | |
| Thalhammer et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Foose et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Czech Republic | |
| Pažout et al. (2017) |
| Ondruš et al. (1989) |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Sejkora (1994) |
Finland | |
| Outokumpu |
| Mutanen |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2008. ... +4 other references |
| 33 IGC excursion No 15 +2 other references |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2011. ... |
| Geological Survey of Finland 2006 ... |
| American Mineralogist (1973) |
| Papunen (1985) +1 other reference |
France | |
| Pierrot et al. (1973) |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Nickel et al. (1985) |
| Wagner et al. (2002) |
| Mücke et al. (1993) |
| Siemroth et al. (1999) |
| Grünling (1913) | |
| Leon Hupperichs collection | |
| Haas (n.d.) |
| Vollstädt et al. (1991) |
| Wittern (2001) | |
| Hajek (2010) |
| Lapis 30 (7/8) | |
| Tröger (2012) |
Greece | |
| Frank Keutsch analyses |
| Tsoupas et al. (2008) |
Greenland | |
| Semenov (2001) |
| Sørensen (1962) +2 other references |
India | |
| Canadian Mineralogist 40:277-309 |
| Augé et al. (2002, July) | |
Iran | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
Italy | |
| Prete (1995) |
| - (n.d.) |
Japan | |
| Arai +4 other references |
| Fukuoka & Hirowatari (1980) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data 2019 +2 other references |
Mexico | |
| American Mineralogist 28:257-271 +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Favreau et al. (2006) |
| Praszkier (2010) | |
| El Ghorfi et al. (2008) | |
| Pina et al. (2013) |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) | |
North Macedonia | |
| Janković (1993) +1 other reference |
| Đorđević et al. (2017) |
Norway | |
| Ohnmacht (1974) |
Oman | |
| |
Poland | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
| Piestrzyński et al. (2012) | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
| Harańczyk C. 1967: Charakterystyka ... +1 other reference | |
| Lis et al. (1986) | |
Romania | |
| HÎRTOPANU et al. (2025) |
Russia | |
| Kiseleva +3 other references |
| Rudashevskiy N.S. et al. (2003) |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) +2 other references |
| Sorokina et al. (2019) |
| www.igem.ru (2001) +1 other reference |
| Shvedov et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
| Kozlov et al. (2011) +2 other references |
| Alexander V. Dedeev et al (2002) +2 other references |
| Zaitsev et al. (2022) |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) |
| Nornickel | |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) | |
| Gritsenko et al. (2005) +2 other references | |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) | |
| Gritsenko et al. (2005) +3 other references | |
| Nornickel | |
| Ryabov et al. (2010, October) |
| Ryabov et al. (2013) | |
| Kiseleva et al. (2024) |
| Neradovskii et al. (1982) |
| |
| Abzalov et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Shabutdinov et al. (2024) | |
| Lebedev et al. (2019) |
| Palyanova et al. (2018) |
| Shmelev V.R. et al. (2014) |
| Barkov et al. (2002) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Carmona Ruiz +2 other references |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Calvo Rebollar (2003) | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) | |
| Oen et al. (1980) +1 other reference |
| Vajdak (2006) | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) |
| Am Min 57:3 pp 354-363 +1 other reference | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) | |
| Gervilla et al. (1990) |
| Gervilla et al. (2002) | |
| Oen et al. (1980) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2003) |
| Joan Rosell +1 other reference | |
| Martin-Izard et al. (1995) |
Sweden | |
| Nyström et al. (1991) |
| Andersen (2009) |
| Grip (1961) |
| Mikael Jansson () |
Switzerland | |
| Beda Hofmann (1986) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| Ansermet et al. (2021) |
Tanzania | |
| Maier et al. (2010) |
Turkey | |
| Zaccarini +3 other references |
| Zaccarini +3 other references | |
UK | |
| Brian Craik-Smith collection +4 other references |
| [J.Russell Soc 1998:23] |
| O'Driscoll et al. (2018) |
| Day (1999) |
Ukraine | |
| Gornostayev et al. (2002) |
USA | |
| Haxel et al. (2023) |
| Dunning et al. (2002) |
| California Geology: 48 (5) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Foord et al. (1981) |
| Wilson et al. (1992) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| - (1998) |
| 5th International Platinum Symposium ... +3 other references | |
| Raič et al. (2015) | |
| Smith and Barnes (2011) |
| Smith and Barnes (2011) +1 other reference |
| Smith et al. (1980) | |
| Foord et al. (1981) | |
| Smith et al. (1980) |
| Milton et al. (1958) +1 other reference |
Vietnam | |
| Glotov et al. (2001) |
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Hans-Seidel shafts I-II, Helbra, Mansfeld-Südharz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany