Niggliite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Niggliite
Paul Niggli
Formula:
PtSn
Colour:
Silver-white
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
13.4 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named by D. L. Scholtz after Professor Paul Niggli [June 26, 1888 Zofingen, Switzerland - January 13, 1953 Zurich, Switzerland]. Niggli was a brilliant crystallographer and taught at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule and at the University of Zurich.
There was confusion in the early literature, starting with the original description suggesting the mineral was PtTe, which has similar XRD and optical properties.
NiAs-type crystal structure.
NiAs-type crystal structure.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2904
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2904:5
IMA Classification of Niggliite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1936
Classification of Niggliite
1.AG.60
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys
Dana 7th ed.:
1.2.13.1
1.2.10.1
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
2 : Platinum Group Metals and Alloys
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
2 : Platinum Group Metals and Alloys
1.84
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nig | 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 Niggliite
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver-white
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=572 - 673 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
Exhibits hardness anisotropy
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
13.4 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Niggliite
Anisotropism:
Very high, bright pinkish cream to very dark blue or black
Bireflectance:
Strong, pinkish cream to pale cobalt-blue
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 42.6% | 46.4% |
| 440nm | 44.7% | 52.9% |
| 480nm | 45.9% | 58.2% |
| 520nm | 45.9% | 61.7% |
| 560nm | 45.3% | 64.1% |
| 600nm | 44.8% | 66.0% |
| 640nm | 44.6% | 67.1% |
| 680nm | 44.7% | 68.2% |
| 700nm | 45.0% | 68.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 68.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
pinkish to blue
Chemistry of Niggliite
Mindat Formula:
PtSn
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pd,Sb,Bi,Te
Crystallography of Niggliite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.100(1) Å, c = 5.432(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.325
Unit Cell V:
79.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
rounded to anhedral inclusions
Comment:
on synthetic
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011591 | Niggliite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 85-237 | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.157 Å | (100) |
| 0.781 Å | (100) |
| 1.203 Å | (90) |
| 2.050 Å | (80) |
| 1.485 Å | (80) |
| 0.7758 Å | (80) |
| 2.971 Å | (70) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
| 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 |
Type Occurrence of Niggliite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rounded to anhedral inclusions, to 75 µm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162610.
Other Language Names for Niggliite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 43 photos of Niggliite associated with Cabriite | Pd2CuSn |
| 36 photos of Niggliite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 31 photos of Niggliite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 20 photos of Niggliite associated with Paolovite | Pd2Sn |
| 16 photos of Niggliite associated with Geversite | PtSb2 |
| 13 photos of Niggliite associated with Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 13 photos of Niggliite associated with Native Silver | Ag |
| 12 photos of Niggliite associated with Altaite | PbTe |
| 11 photos of Niggliite associated with Sperrylite | PtAs2 |
| 10 photos of Niggliite associated with Hessite | Ag2Te |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AG. | Sluzhenikinite | Pd15(Sb7-xSnx) |
| 1.AG. | Palladothallite | Pd3Tl |
| 1.AG. | Driekopite | PtBi |
| 1.AG. | Sidorovite | Fe3Pt |
| 1.AG. | Michitoshiite-(Cu) | Rh(Cu1-xGex) |
| 1.AG.05 | Hexaferrum | (Fe,Os,Ru,Ir) |
| 1.AG.05 | Garutiite | (Ni,Fe,Ir) |
| 1.AG.10 | Zvyagintsevite | Pd3Pb |
| 1.AG.10 | Rustenburgite | (Pt,Pd)3Sn |
| 1.AG.10 | Atokite | (Pd,Pt)3Sn |
| 1.AG.15 | Taimyrite | (Pd,Cu,Pt)3Sn |
| 1.AG.15 | Tatyanaite | (Pt,Pd,Cu)9Cu3Sn4 |
| 1.AG.20 | Paolovite | Pd2Sn |
| 1.AG.25 | Stannopalladinite | (Pd,Cu)3Sn |
| 1.AG.25 | Plumbopalladinite | Pd3Pb2 |
| 1.AG.30 | Cabriite | Pd2CuSn |
| 1.AG.35 | Isoferroplatinum | Pt3Fe |
| 1.AG.35 | Chengdeite | Ir3Fe |
| 1.AG.40 | Tetraferroplatinum | PtFe |
| 1.AG.40 | Tulameenite | Pt2CuFe |
| 1.AG.40 | Ferronickelplatinum | Pt2FeNi |
| 1.AG.45 | Skaergaardite | PdCu |
| 1.AG.45 | Hongshiite | PtCu |
| 1.AG.50 | Yixunite | Pt3In |
| 1.AG.55 | Damiaoite | PtIn2 |
| 1.AG.65 | Bortnikovite | Pd4Cu3Zn |
| 1.AG.70 | Nielsenite | PdCu3 |
| 1.AG.75 | Norilskite | (Pd,Ag)2xPb (x = 0.08 - 0.11) |
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 Niggliite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2904.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Niggliite
Localities for Niggliite
Showing 38 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.
Algeria | |
| Schulze (1998) |
Brazil | |
| Campbell (2012) |
Canada | |
| Vale SA |
| Ames et al. (2003) +2 other references | |
| Springer (1989) +1 other reference | |
| Springer (1989) | |
| Ames et al. (2003) |
| Smith and Barnes (2011) |
| 157-158. +1 other reference | |
| McDonald et al. (2015) |
China | |
| Chen Keqiao et al. (1981) |
| Han et al. (2007) |
Kenya | |
| Schulze (1998) |
Poland | |
| Sachanbiński et al. (2000) |
Russia | |
| Kovalev et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
| Kovalev et al. (2017) | |
| Spiridonov et al. (2019) +1 other reference |
| Spiridonov et al. (2019, April) | |
| Spiridonov et al. (2018) | |
| Kislov +2 other references | |
| Genkin et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Sluzhenikin et al. (2015) | |
| Tony Nikischer specimen and analysis +2 other references |
| 2014 Ultramafic-mafic intrusions | |
| Gabov (2010) |
| Groshev +6 other references | |
| Yury L. Voytekhovsky (2008) | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Grishaenko et al. (2007) |
South Africa (TL) | |
| Scholtz (1936) |
| Montjoie (2018) |
| Holwell et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
| Roberts |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) | |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Rainville et al. (1976) |
| Thompson et al. (1998) |
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Oktyabrsky Mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia