Nickolayite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Dieter Nickolay
Formula:
FeMoP
Colour:
Light-grey to greyish-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
7.819 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Dieter Nickolay (b. 1941), German mineral collector and mineralogist, for his contributions to the studies in systematic mineralogy.
New structure type. One of four known Mo phosphide minerals (beside monipite - its nickel analogue), polekhovskyite, and tsikourasite), with a chemical combination unique for natural oxygen-free compounds.
Structurally related to allabogdanite, florenskyite (its Ti analogue), and andreyivanovite (its Cr analogue).
Most likely originated from co-reduction of Mo- (powellite?) and P-bearing minerals during high-temperature pyrometamorphic processes.
Structurally related to allabogdanite, florenskyite (its Ti analogue), and andreyivanovite (its Cr analogue).
Most likely originated from co-reduction of Mo- (powellite?) and P-bearing minerals during high-temperature pyrometamorphic processes.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53366
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53366:5
Similar Names
| Nicolayite | A synonym of 'Thorogummite' |
IMA Classification of Nickolayite
Approved
Approval year:
2019
Classification of Nickolayite
1.BD.
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Hydrides
D : Phosphides
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Hydrides
D : Phosphides
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nkl | 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 Nickolayite
Metallic
Colour:
Light-grey to greyish-white
Hardness:
VHN50=490 - 588 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Elastic
Cleavage:
None Observed
Comment:
The mineral is ductile.
Density:
7.819 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculated from the empirical formula (appears as 7.840 in body of prepublished article).
Optical Data of Nickolayite
Anisotropism:
Very weak, ∆R589 = 1.95 %
Bireflectance:
None
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 44.7% | 46.9% |
| 420nm | 45.2% | 47.4% |
| 440nm | 45.7% | 47.8% |
| 460nm | 46.2% | 48.2% |
| 470nm | 46.5% | 48.5% |
| 480nm | 46.7% | 48.8% |
| 500nm | 47.3% | 49.2% |
| 520nm | 47.7% | 49.8% |
| 540nm | 48.3% | 50.4% |
| 546nm | 48.5% | 50.5% |
| 560nm | 49.0% | 50.9% |
| 580nm | 49.6% | 51.5% |
| 589nm | 49.9% | 51.8% |
| 600nm | 50.2% | 52.2% |
| 620nm | 50.9% | 52.9% |
| 640nm | 51.6% | 53.6% |
| 650nm | 52.0% | 53.9% |
| 660nm | 52.3% | 54.2% |
| 680nm | 52.9% | 54.8% |
| 700nm | 53.6% | 55.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 55.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Nickolayite
Mindat Formula:
FeMoP
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Nickolayite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Setting:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.9519(5) Å, b = 3.7070(3) Å, c = 6.8465(6) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.606 : 1 : 1.847
Unit Cell V:
151.06 ų
Z:
4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.238 Å | (21) |
| 2.298 Å | (100) |
| 2.226 Å | (9) |
| 2.181 Å | (89) |
| 2.113 Å | (26) |
| 1.927 Å | (14) |
| 1.838 Å | (18) |
| 1.388 Å | (13) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Nickolayite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregularly shaped grains, up to 80 μm in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy Prospekt 18-2, Moscow 119071, Russia, registration number 5290/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Accessory phase of fused clinopyroxene-plagioclase rocks that texturally resemble gabbro-dolerite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Nickolayite
Other Language Names for Nickolayite
Dutch:Nickolayiet
German:Nickolayit
Relationship of Nickolayite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Florenskyite Group:
| Allabogdanite | (Fe,Ni)2P | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Andreyivanovite | FeCrP | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Florenskyite | FeTiP | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Grammatikopoulosite | NiVP | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.BD. | Murashkoite | FeP |
| 1.BD. | Orishchinite | Ni2P |
| 1.BD. | Grammatikopoulosite | NiVP |
| 1.BD. | Negevite | NiP2 |
| 1.BD. | Halamishite | Ni5P4 |
| 1.BD. | Transjordanite | Ni2P |
| 1.BD. | Zuktamrurite | FeP2 |
| 1.BD.05 | Nickelphosphide | (Ni,Fe)3P |
| 1.BD.05 | Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| 1.BD.10 | Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1.BD.10 | Monipite | MoNiP |
| 1.BD.15 | Allabogdanite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1.BD.15 | Florenskyite | FeTiP |
| 1.BD.15 | Andreyivanovite | FeCrP |
| 1.BD.20 | Melliniite | (Ni,Fe)4P |
| 1.BD.35 | Nazarovite | Ni12P5 |
| 1.BD.45 | Polekhovskyite | MoNiP2 |
| 1.BD.50 | Tsikourasite | Mo3Ni2P1+x |
| 1.BD.60 | Badengzhuite | TiP |
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 Nickolayite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53366.html
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References for Nickolayite
Reference List:
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hålenius, Ulf, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2019) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) NEWSLETTER 47. European Journal of Mineralogy, 31 (1) 197-202 doi:10.1127/ejm/2019/0031-2839
Localities for Nickolayite
Showing 2 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.
Jordan (TL) | |
| European Journal of Mineralogy +1 other reference |
| Galuskin et al. (2023) |
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