Nuwaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Nuwaite
Nüwa (女媧)
Formula:
Ni6GeS2
Ni6(Ge,Sn)(S,Te)2
Specific Gravity:
7.24 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
The name nuwaite is after Nu Wa, the goddess in the ancient Chinese mythology who patched the fractured wall of Heaven to save the early World after Pan Gu’s creation, in allusion to this secondary mineral filling cracks in a primitive refractory inclusion in the early solar system.
Type Locality:
The Ge analogue of butianite. Unique combination of elements among the approved natural species, although an unnamed phase 'UM1959-03-S:CuGeNi' with similar composition is known.
Alteration phase in a Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) in Allende chondrite. Possibly the first solar mineral rich in Ge, Sn and Te.
Alteration phase in a Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) in Allende chondrite. Possibly the first solar mineral rich in Ge, Sn and Te.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
43880
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43880:1
IMA Classification of Nuwaite
Approved
Approval year:
2013
First published:
2018
Approval history:
IMA 2013-018
Classification of Nuwaite
2.LA.65
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nuw | 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 Nuwaite
Transparency:
Opaque
Density:
7.24 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Nuwaite
Mindat Formula:
Ni6GeS2
Ni6(Ge,Sn)(S,Te)2
Ni6(Ge,Sn)(S,Te)2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Sn,Te
Crystallography of Nuwaite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.650 Å, c = 18.141 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 4.97
Unit Cell V:
241.7 ų
Z:
2
Comment:
superstructure
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.535 Å | (100) |
| 3.024 Å | (9) |
| 1.963 Å | (10) |
| 1.825 Å | (31) |
| 1.704 Å | (10) |
| 1.693 Å | (24) |
| 1.291 Å | (10) |
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
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 |
Type Occurrence of Nuwaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
irregular grains 1-6 μm in size
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA, registration number USNM 7616
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Ni5.95Fe0.16)(Ge0.60Sn0.23)
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Ni | 65.3 % |
|---|---|
| S | 10.3 % |
| Ge | 8.2 % |
| Te | 7.9 % |
| Sn | 5.1 % |
| Fe | 1.7 % |
| Total: | 98.5 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Nuwaite is apparently a late-stage alteration product in meteorites.
Synonyms of Nuwaite
Other Language Names for Nuwaite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Nuwaite associated with Melilite Group | Ca2M(XSiO7) |
| 1 photo of Nuwaite associated with Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.LA. | Thunderbayite | TlAg3Au3Sb7S6 |
| 2.LA. | Auerbakhite | MnTl2As2S5 |
| 2.LA. | Biagioniite | Tl2SbS2 |
| 2.LA. | Ferrofettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10FeAs2S8] |
| 2.LA. | Gladkovskyite | MnTlAs3S6 |
| 2.LA.10 | Dervillite | Ag2AsS2 |
| 2.LA.15 | Daomanite | CuPtAsS2 |
| 2.LA.20 | Vaughanite | TlHgSb4S7 |
| 2.LA.25 | Criddleite | TlAg2Au3Sb10S10 |
| 2.LA.30 | Fettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8] |
| 2.LA.35 | Chaméanite | (Cu,Fe)4As(Se,S)4 |
| 2.LA.40 | Arcubisite | Ag6CuBiS4 |
| 2.LA.45 | Mgriite | Cu3AsSe3 |
| 2.LA.50 | Benleonardite | [Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2] |
| 2.LA.55 | Tsnigriite | Ag9SbTe3S3 |
| 2.LA.60 | Borovskite | Pd3SbTe4 |
| 2.LA.65 | Jonassonite | AuBi5S4 |
| 2.LA.65 | Butianite | Ni6SnS2 |
| 2.LA.70 | Raberite | Tl5Ag4As6SbS15 |
| 2.LA.75 | Spaltiite | Tl2Cu2As2S5 |
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 Nuwaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-43880.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Nuwaite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2013) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2013. CNMNC Newsletter No 16. Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (6) 2695-2709 doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.6.01
Localities for Nuwaite
Showing 1 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.
Mexico (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2016) |
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Allende meteorite, Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico