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Oregonite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About OregoniteHide

06625040017271925605347.jpg
Flag of Oregon
Formula:
Ni2FeAs2
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
6.92 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named by V.P. Ramdohr and M. Schmitt in 1959 for the state of Oregon, USA that includes the type locality.
Oregonite has a high reflectivity, about 65%, in both air and oil.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3015
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3015:7

Similar NamesHide

AragoniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredCaCO3
IriginiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered(UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O

IMA Classification of OregoniteHide

Classification of OregoniteHide

2.BB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
B : With Ni
2.5.4.1

2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
3.11.31

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 SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
OreIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of OregoniteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
White
Comment:
Color observed under the ore microscope
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Malleable
Density:
6.92 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of OregoniteHide

Anisotropism:
Weak, but visible in air along grain boundaries.
Colour in reflected light:
white

Chemistry of OregoniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ni2FeAs2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
As46.380 %
Ni36.334 %
Fe17.286 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
As
Ni
Fe

Crystallography of OregoniteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.083 Å, c = 7.130 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.172
Unit Cell V:
228.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
fine-grained pebbles, having a smooth brown crust; polygonal grains, to 0.5 mm.
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.314 Å(vs)
2.1195 Å(vs)
1.991 Å(s)
1.77885 Å(s)
1.757 Å(s)
1.739 Å(s)
Comments:
Similiarity in pattern with heazlewoodite, but the latter is rhombohedral.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of OregoniteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
As water-rolled pebbles with a smooth brown crust. Matrix consists of 40 % penninite and serpentine.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Placer Au-Ni-PGE (Pt-Ir)-Cr-Fe deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Other Language Names for OregoniteHide

Dutch:Oregoniet
German:Oregonit
Italian:Oregonite
Simplified Chinese:砷铁镍矿
Spanish:Oregonita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
19 photos of Oregonite associated with AwaruiteNi3Fe
18 photos of Oregonite associated with Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
13 photos of Oregonite associated with ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
7 photos of Oregonite associated with Native CopperCu
6 photos of Oregonite associated with CupriteCu2O
4 photos of Oregonite associated with HeazlewooditeNi3S2
3 photos of Oregonite associated with MagnetiteFe2+Fe3+2O4
2 photos of Oregonite associated with PyrrhotiteFe1-xS

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BB.ArsenotučekiteNi18Sb3AsS16Tet. 4mm : I4mm
2.BB.HrabákiteNi9PbSbS8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.'UM2007-27-S:CuFeIrNiRh'(Ni,Fe,Cu,Rh,Ir)11S9
2.BB.HoromaniteFe6Ni3S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.SamaniiteCu2Fe5Ni2S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/mnm
2.BB.05HeazlewooditeNi3S2Trig. 32 : R32
2.BB.05'UM2007-30-S:Fe'Fe3S2
2.BB.05Vozhminite(Ni,Co)4(As,Sb)S2Hex.
2.BB.10HauchecorniteNi9BiSbS8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.10ArsenohauchecorniteNi18Bi3AsS16Tet.
2.BB.10TellurohauchecorniteNi9Bi(Te,Bi)S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.10JinxiuiteNi18Bi2SbAsS16Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BB.10BismutohauchecorniteNi9Bi2S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.10TučekiteNi9Sb2S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.BB.15ArgentopentlanditeAg(Fe,Ni)8S8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BB.15Shadlunite(Pb,Cd)(Fe,Cu)8S8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BB.15Ferhodsite(Fe,Rh,Ni,Ir,Cu,Pt)9S8Tet.
2.BB.15CobaltpentlanditeCo9S8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BB.15'UM2002-26-S:FeNi'(Ni,Fe)9S8Hex.
2.BB.15Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BB.15OberthüriteRh3Ni32S32Iso.
2.BB.15Geffroyite(Cu,Fe,Ag)9(Se,S)8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BB.15Kharaelakhite(Cu,Pt,Pb,Fe,Ni)9S8Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
2.BB.15'Manganoshadlunite'(Mn,Pb,Cd)(Cu,Fe)8S8
2.BB.15SugakiiteCu(Fe,Ni)8S8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/mnm
2.BB.15Godlevskite(Ni,Fe)9S8Orth. 222 : C222
2.BB.15WangyanitePdNi8S8Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3c

Other InformationHide

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 OregoniteHide

References for OregoniteHide

Localities for OregoniteHide

Showing 7 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada
 
  • Ontario
    • Cochrane District
      • Dundonald Township
Dana's New Mineralogy
Cyprus
 
  • Limassol District
    • Limassol Forest Complex
Foose et al. (1985)
  • Nicosia District
    • Skouriotissa
Anthony et al. (1990)
North Macedonia
 
  • Kavadarci Municipality
    • Ržanovo
Volkov et al. (2006)
Russia
 
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Koryak Okrug
Mandarino (2000)
USA
 
  • Arizona
    • La Paz County
      • Eagletail Mts (Cemetary Ridge)
Haxel et al. (2023)
  • Oregon
    • Josephine County
      • Josephine Creek Mining District
Ramdohr V P (1959) +2 other references
 
and/or  
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