Orcelite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Orcelite
Jean Orcel
Formula:
Ni5-xAs2, x ~ 0.25
Previously given as Ni2As.
Colour:
Rose-bronze
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
6.5 - 7.25
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named in 1959 by S. J. Caillère, J. Avias, and J. Falgueirettes in honour of Professor Jean Orcel (1896–1978), French mineralogist, curator of Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3012
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3012:6
Similar Names
| Ercalite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Orcelite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ni4.75As2
First published:
1959
Classification of Orcelite
2.AB.10
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
2.3.2.1
2 : SULFIDES
3 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 5:2
2 : SULFIDES
3 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 5:2
3.11.25
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Orc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Orc | 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 Orcelite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Rose-bronze
Comment:
"browner than nickeline"
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
6.5 - 7.25 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.44 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Orcelite
Chemistry of Orcelite
Mindat Formula:
Ni5-xAs2, x ~ 0.25
Previously given as Ni2As.
Previously given as Ni2As.
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,S,Si,Mg,H2O
Crystallography of Orcelite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63mc
Setting:
P63mc
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.7922(2) Å, c = 12.4975(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.84
Unit Cell V:
499.31 ų
Z:
6
Morphology:
Inclusions in pentlandite
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014135 | Orcelite | El-Boragy M, Bhan S, Schubert K (1970) Die kristallstruktur von Pd5Sb2 und Ni5As2 und einigen varianten Journal of the Less-Common Metals 22 445-458 | 1970 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.25 Å | (20) |
| 3.09 Å | (20) |
| 2.945 Å | (40) |
| 2.706 Å | (40) |
| 2.257 Å | (10) |
| 2.137 Å | (60) |
| 1.987 Å | (100) |
| 1.933 Å | (100) |
| 1.831 Å | (10) |
| 1.757 Å | (60) |
| 1.641 Å | (20) |
| 1.385 Å | (20) |
| 1.302 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 35-493; obsolete cards ICDD 10-219, ICDD 13-333
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47i : [Terrestrial weathering of meteorites] |
Type Occurrence of Orcelite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As inclusions in pentlandite and as rims on maucherite.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In serpentinized harzburgite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Orcelite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Orcelite associated with Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| 7 photos of Orcelite associated with Awaruite | Ni3Fe |
| 5 photos of Orcelite associated with Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 2 photos of Orcelite associated with Heazlewoodite | Ni3S2 |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with Zaratite | Ni3(CO3)(OH)4 · 4H2O ? |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with Olivine Group | M2SiO4 |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with 'Chromium-bearing Clinochlore' | Mg5(Al,Cr)2Si3O10(OH)8 |
| 1 photo of Orcelite associated with Chromite | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.AB.10a | Olgafrankite | Ni3Ge |
| 2.AB.15 | Maucherite | Ni11As8 |
Fluorescence of Orcelite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Orcelite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3012.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 Orcelite
Reference List:
Caillère, Simonne, Avias, Jacques, Falgueirettes, Jean (1961) Sur un nouvel arséniure de nickel (Ni2As) L'orcélite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 84 (1) 9-12 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1961.5442
(1962) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 33 (258) 260-263 doi:10.1180/minmag.1962.033.258.09
El-boragy, M.; Bhan, S.; Schubert, K. (1970) Kristallstruktur von Pd5Sb2 und Ni5As2 und einigen Varianten. Journal of the Less Common Metals, 22 (4). 445-458 doi:10.1016/0022-5088(70)90132-3
Oen, Ing Soen, Kieft, Cornelis, Burke, Ernest Alexander Julius, Westerhof, Aenaeus Bernardus (1980) Orcelite and associated minerals in the Ni—Fe—As—S system in chromitites and orthopyroxenites of Nebral, Málaga, Spain. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 103 (2). 198-208 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1980.7397
Evstigneeva, T., Kabalov, Yu., Schneider, J. (2000) Crystal Structure of PdNiAs, Ordered Member of Isomorphous Series Pd2As-Ni2As. Materials Science Forum, 321. 700-704 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.321-324.700
Bindi, Luca, Tredoux, Marian, Zaccarini, Federica, Miller, Duncan E., Garuti, Giorgio (2014) Non-stoichiometric nickel arsenides in nature: The structure of orcelite, Ni5−xAs2 (x = 0.25), from the Bon Accord oxide body, South Africa. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 601. 175-178 doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.02.084
Localities for Orcelite
Showing 58 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.
Australia | |
| Ralph Bottrill |
| Ralph Bottrill collection | |
Austria | |
| Bojar (2021) |
| Kollegger et al. (2008) |
| C.Auer (2025) | |
Brazil | |
| Campbell (2012) |
Bulgaria | |
| Kerestedjian et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Lorand et al. (1984) |
| rruff.info (2013) |
Chile | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2016) |
Cuba | |
| Gevilla et al. (2005) |
| Gevilla et al. (2005) |
Finland | |
| Pakkanen et al. (1995) |
France (TL) | |
| Caillère et al. (1959) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| |
Greece | |
| Bussolesi et al. (2020) |
| Kanellopoulos et al. (2024) |
| Kapsiotis (2013) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
Greenland | |
| Nielsen et al. (2015) |
India | |
| Canadian Mineralogist 40:277-309 |
| Augé et al. (2002, July) | |
Italy | |
| - (n.d.) |
Japan | |
| Kadota et al. (2008) |
| Arai +4 other references |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data 2019 +2 other references |
Mongolia | |
| www.dmitrenkogg.narod.ru (n.d.) |
Morocco | |
| Lhou et al. (2015) |
Russia | |
| Kiseleva +3 other references |
| Gritsenko et al. (2008) +2 other references |
| Mekhonoshin et al. (2013) +2 other references |
| Podlipsky et al. (2015) | |
| Kozlov et al. (2011) +2 other references |
| Sandimirova et al. (2016) | |
| Kutyrev et al. (2023) |
| - (2014) |
| Ryabov et al. (2010, October) |
| |
| Grokhovskaya et al. (2014) |
| Rudashevskii N S et al. (1982) |
| Kiseleva et al. (2014) |
| Grigor’eva et al. (2018) | |
| Palyanova et al. (2018) |
South Africa | |
| Rudashevsky et al. (1992) +1 other reference |
| Oberthür et al. (2021) |
| Bindi et al. (2014) |
Spain | |
| Oen et al. (1980) +2 other references |
| Gervilla et al. (2002) | |
| Oen et al. (1980) |
Sweden | |
| Nyström et al. (1991) |
Switzerland | |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference | |
| Peretti (1988) +1 other reference | |
Turkey | |
| Zaccarini +3 other references |
| Zaccarini +3 other references | |
UK | |
| BGS - Minerals of Britain +2 other references |
USA | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (1992) |
| Smith and Barnes (2011) +1 other reference |
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Avebury Nickel Deposit, Zeehan mining district, West Coast municipality, Tasmania, Australia