Nickeline
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Nickeline
Formula:
NiAs
Colour:
Pale copper red
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
7.784
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Originally named kupfernickel in 1694 by Urban Hjärne from the German nickname for Satan or Nick (in the sense of a mischievous deceiver), because the ore seemed to contain copper but yielded none. Renamed nickeline in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant in allusion to its nickel contents. Also renamed niccolite by James Dwight Dana in 1868 from the Latin "niccolum".
Isostructural with:
The most common member of the nickeline group. An important nickel ore mineral.
Compare, e.g, rammelsbergite, pararammelsbergite, and (now approved/redefined) dienerite.
Compare, e.g, rammelsbergite, pararammelsbergite, and (now approved/redefined) dienerite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2901
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2901:4
IMA Classification of Nickeline
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1805
Classification of Nickeline
2.CC.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2.8.11.1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.11.27
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Nc | 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 Nickeline
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Pale copper red
Comment:
Tarnishes to lead grey, greyish, or black
Streak:
Pale brownish black
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
7.784 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.834 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nickeline
Anisotropism:
Very strong, light greenish yellow to slate-gray
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 39.2% | 45.4% |
| 420nm | 38.0% | 44.2% |
| 440nm | 36.8% | 43.5% |
| 460nm | 36.2% | 43.2% |
| 480nm | 37.2% | 44.3% |
| 500nm | 39.6% | 46.4% |
| 520nm | 42.3% | 48.6% |
| 540nm | 45.3% | 50.7% |
| 560nm | 48.2% | 52.8% |
| 580nm | 51.0% | 54.8% |
| 600nm | 53.7% | 56.7% |
| 620nm | 55.9% | 58.4% |
| 640nm | 57.8% | 59.9% |
| 660nm | 59.4% | 61.3% |
| 680nm | 61.0% | 62.5% |
| 700nm | 62.2% | 63.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 63.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
white with strong yellowish pink hue
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Whitish yellow-pink to light brownish pink.
Chemistry of Nickeline
Mindat Formula:
NiAs
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Sb,Fe,Co,S
Crystallography of Nickeline
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.602 Å, c = 5.009 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.391
Unit Cell V:
56.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Twinning:
On {1011} producing fourlings, possibly on {3141}
Crystallographic forms of Nickeline
Crystal Atlas:
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Nickeline - Prismatic {110}
Nickeline - {100}, {101}, {001}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013180 | Nickeline | Thompson J G, Rae A D, Withers R L, Welberry T R, Willis A C (1988) The crystal structure of nickel arsenide Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics 21 4007-4015 | 1988 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0013179 | Nickeline | Thompson J G, Rae A D, Withers R L, Welberry T R, Willis A C (1988) The crystal structure of nickel arsenide Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics 21 4007-4015 | 1988 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0011580 | Nickeline | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 85-237 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017940 | Nickeline | Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1011036 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73 | 1925 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017953 | Nickeline | Aminoff G (1923) Untersuchungen ueber die Kristallstrukturen von Wurtzit und Rotnickelkies. _cod_database_code 1011052 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 58 203-219 | 1923 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.66 Å | (100) |
| 1.961 Å | (90) |
| 1.811 Å | (80) |
| 1.071 Å | (40) |
| 1.328 Å | (30) |
| 1.033 Å | (30) |
| 0.821 Å | (30) |
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]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals |
Synonyms of Nickeline
Other Language Names for Nickeline
Basque:Nikelina
Dutch:Nickelien
Finnish:Nikkoliitti
French:Nickéline
Greek:Νικελίνης
Hungarian:Nikkelin
Norwegian:Kobbernikkel
Polish:Nikielin
Russian:Никелин
Simplified Chinese:红砷镍矿
Slovak:Nikelín
Spanish:Nickelita
Niquelina
Niquel Rojo
Niquelina
Niquel Rojo
Ukrainian:Нікелін
Relationship of Nickeline to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Nickeline Group:
| Achávalite | FeSe | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Breithauptite | NiSb | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Driekopite | PtBi | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Freboldite | CoSe | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) | Hex. |
| Langisite | CoAs | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Sederholmite | NiSe | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sobolevskite | PdBi | Hex. |
| Stumpflite | PtSb | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sudburyite | PdSb | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 312 photos of Nickeline associated with Rammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
| 229 photos of Nickeline associated with Nickelskutterudite | NiAs3 |
| 172 photos of Nickeline associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 131 photos of Nickeline associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 126 photos of Nickeline associated with Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| 92 photos of Nickeline associated with Maucherite | Ni11As8 |
| 79 photos of Nickeline associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 75 photos of Nickeline associated with Native Silver | Ag |
| 69 photos of Nickeline associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 68 photos of Nickeline associated with Native Bismuth | Bi |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CC. | Eliopoulosite | V7S8 |
| 2.CC. | Tilkerodeite | Pd2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC. | 'UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh' | (Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)9S11 |
| 2.CC. | Proxitwelvefoldite | Pd3Ni4Te8 |
| 2.CC. | Ferrotorryweiserite | Rh5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Tamuraite | Ir5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Crowningshieldite | (Ni0.9Fe0.1)S |
| 2.CC. | Kuvaevite | Ir5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Torryweiserite | Rh5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC.05 | Achávalite | FeSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Langisite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Sederholmite | NiSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Freboldite | CoSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Sobolevskite | PdBi |
| 2.CC.05 | Jaipurite | CoS |
| 2.CC.05 | Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) |
| 2.CC.05 | Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 |
| 2.CC.05 | Stumpflite | PtSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Sudburyite | PdSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Breithauptite | NiSb |
| 2.CC.10 | Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 2.CC.10 | Smythite | (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3) |
| 2.CC.10 | Troilite | FeS |
| 2.CC.15 | Ruthenarsenite | (Ru,Ni)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Westerveldite | (Fe,Ni,Co)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Modderite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.15 | Minakawaite | RhSb |
| 2.CC.15 | Cherepanovite | RhAs |
| 2.CC.20 | 'UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh' | (Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S |
| 2.CC.20 | Millerite | NiS |
| 2.CC.20 | Mäkinenite | NiSe |
| 2.CC.25 | Mackinawite | FeS |
| 2.CC.30 | Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 |
| 2.CC.30 | 'Hexatestibiopanickelite' | (Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ? |
| 2.CC.35b | Cooperite | PtS |
| 2.CC.35a | Vysotskite | PdS |
| 2.CC.35a | Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| 2.CC.45 | Jacutingaite | Pt2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC.50 | 'Imgreite' | NiTe (?) |
Other Information
Notes:
Fusable at 2.
Gives nickel test with dimethylglyoxine.
Gives nickel test with dimethylglyoxine.
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 Nickeline
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2901.html
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References for Nickeline
Reference List:
Beudant, François-Sulpice (1830) Traité élémentaire de minéralogie. Deuxiéme Edition [Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy. Second Edition] (2nd ed.) Vol. 1 - Tome Premier [Volume One]. Chez Verdière. pp.586-589
Russell, Arthur (1927) Notice of an occurrence of niccolite and ullmannite at the Settlingstones Mine, Fourstones, Northumberland; and of serpierite at Ross Island Mine, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 21 (119) 383-387 doi:10.1180/minmag.1927.021.119.03
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/mem85p.62
Lutz, H. D.; Haeuseler, H.; Willich, P. (1975) Gitterschwingungsspektren. XIV NiAs-und Fe3Se4 -Struktur / Lattice Vibration Spectra. XIV. NiAs and Fe3Se4 Structure. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A, 30 (3). 308-311 doi:10.1515/zna-1975-0308
Thompson, J G; Rae, A D; Withers, R L; Welberry, T R; Willis, A C (1988) Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics, 21 (22). 4007-4015 doi:10.1088/0022-3719/21/22/016
Hua, G L, Welberry, T R, Withers, R L (1988) Diffuse scattering in nickel arsenide, NiAs. Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics, 21 (21). 3863-3876 doi:10.1088/0022-3719/21/21/009
Localities for Nickeline
Showing 804 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.
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Eisleben, Mansfeld-Südharz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany