Ullmannite

Last updated
Ullmannite
Ullmannite - Mt Narba - Sardinia.JPG
General
Category Sulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Ni Sb S
IMA symbol Ull [1]
Strunz classification 2.EB.25
Crystal system Cubic
Crystal class Tetartoidal (23)
H-M symbol: (23)
Space group P213
Unit cell a = 5.91(2) Å; Z = 4
Identification
ColorSteel-gray to tin white
Twinning Penetration twins about [110]
Cleavage Perfect on {001}
Fracture Uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness5–5.5
Luster metallic
Diaphaneity Opaque
Specific gravity 6.65–6.85
References [2] [3] [4]

Ullmannite or Nickel glance (trivial name) is a nickel antimony sulfide mineral with formula: NiSbS. Considerable substitution occurs with cobalt and iron in the nickel site along with bismuth and arsenic in the antimony site. A solid solution series exists with the high cobalt willyamite.

Contents

Physical properties

Ullmannite is steel-gray to tin white in color with a metallic luster, has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5 and a specific gravity of 6.65. Initially thought to be of two species, tetrahedral and cubic, it was later confirmed that both samples conformed to the 23 point group of the isometric crystal class and typically exhibits cubic, octahedral, or pyritohedral forms although euhedral crystals are rare. [5]

Variance in its chemical composition has been shown to be responsible for loss of symmetry and variations in striation patterns. [6]

Ullmannite crystals are usually less than 2 mm, however larger have been identified in especially antimony rich environments. [7] Ullmannite commonly displays interpenetration twins as well as enantiomorphic twinning along [110]. [2]

Occurrence

Ullmannite crystals from the Masaloni Mine, San Vito, Cagliari Province, Sardinia, Italy (size: 5.4 x 3.3 x 2.1 cm) Ullmannite-169966.jpg
Ullmannite crystals from the Masaloni Mine, San Vito, Cagliari Province, Sardinia, Italy (size: 5.4 × 3.3 × 2.1 cm)

It is a member of the cobaltite group and forms a series with willyamite ((Co,Ni)SbS). It occurs with nickeline, gersdorffite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, tetrahedrite and dyscrasite in hydrothermal deposits. [2]

Principal localities are in Germany, it is also found in Austria, Australia, France, England, and Wales.

It was first described in 1843 for an occurrence in the Storch und Schöneberg Mine, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. [4]

Specimens of ullmannite were found at Sarrabus, Sardinia, Italy in 1887. The crystals of the specimens from Sarrabus were described as hemihedral with parallel faces, whereas specimens from Lölling in present-day Austria were hemihedral with inclined faces. [8]

Origin of name

Ullmannite was named for German chemist and mineralogist, Johann Christoph Ullmann (1771–1821), one of the fathers of systematic mineralogy. Ullmann established a mineral collection (now the basis for the internationally renowned Museum of Mineralogy in Marburg [9] ) and authored Ein Systematisch-Tabellarische Übersicht der Mineralogisch einfachen Fossilien, one of the first attempts to provide a structured organization to the observed minerals of the day.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kobellite</span>

Kobellite is a gray, fibrous, metallic mineral with the chemical formula Pb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69. It is also a sulfide mineral consisting of antimony, bismuth, and lead. It is a member of the izoklakeite – berryite series with silver and iron substituting in the copper site and a varying ratio of bismuth, antimony, and lead. It crystallizes with monoclinic pyramidal crystals. The mineral can be found in ores and deposits of Hvena, Sweden; Ouray, Colorado; and Wake County, North Carolina, US. The mineral was named after Wolfgang Franz von Kobell (1803–1882), a German mineralogist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentlandite</span> Iron–nickel sulfide

Pentlandite is an iron–nickel sulfide with the chemical formula (Fe,Ni)9S8. Pentlandite has a narrow variation range in nickel to iron ratios (Ni:Fe), but it is usually described as 1:1. In some cases, this ratio is skewed by the presence of pyrrhotite inclusions. It also contains minor cobalt, usually at low levels as a fraction of weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bornite</span> Sulfide mineral

Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu5FeS4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (pseudo-cubic).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stibnite</span> Sulfide mineral

Stibnite, sometimes called antimonite, is a sulfide mineral with the formula Sb2S3. This soft grey material crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group. It is the most important source for the metalloid antimony. The name is derived from the Greek στίβι stibi through the Latin stibium as the former name for the mineral and the element antimony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickeline</span> Nickel arsenide mineral

Nickeline or niccolite is the mineral form of nickel arsenide. The naturally-occurring mineral contains roughly 43.9% nickel and 56.1% arsenic by mass, but composition of the mineral may vary slightly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skutterudite</span> Cobalt arsenide mineral

Skutterudite is a cobalt arsenide mineral containing variable amounts of nickel and iron substituting for cobalt with the ideal formula CoAs3. Some references give the arsenic a variable formula subscript of 2–3. High nickel varieties are referred to as nickel-skutterudite, previously chloanthite. It is a hydrothermal ore mineral found in moderate to high temperature veins with other Ni-Co minerals. Associated minerals are arsenopyrite, native silver, erythrite, annabergite, nickeline, cobaltite, silver sulfosalts, native bismuth, calcite, siderite, barite and quartz. It is mined as an ore of cobalt and nickel with a by-product of arsenic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erythrite</span> Hydrated cobalt arsenate mineral

Erythrite, also known as red cobalt, is a secondary hydrated cobalt arsenate mineral with the formula Co
3(AsO
4)
2•8H
2O. Erythrite and annabergite, chemical formula Ni
3(AsO
4)
2•8H
2O, or nickel arsenate form a complete series with the general formula (Co,Ni)
3(AsO
4)
2•8H
2O.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valentinite</span>

Valentinite is an antimony oxide mineral with formula Sb2O3. Valentinite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and typically forms as radiating clusters of euhedral crystals or as fibrous masses. It is colorless to white with occasional shades or tints of yellow and red. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3 and a specific gravity of 5.76. Valentinite occurs as a weathering product of stibnite and other antimony minerals. It is dimorphous with the isometric antimony oxide senarmontite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrargyrite</span> Sulfosalt mineral of silver and antimony

Pyrargyrite is a sulfosalt mineral consisting of silver sulfantimonite, Ag3SbS3. Known also as dark red silver ore, ruby blende, garnete blende or ruby silver, it is an important source of the metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournonite</span> Sulfosalt mineral species

Bournonite, also axotomous antimony glance, wheel ore, berthonite, volchite or dystomic glance (German: antimonbleikupferblende) is a sulfosalt mineral species, trithioantimoniate of lead and copper with the formula PbCuSbS3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freibergite</span>

Freibergite is a complex sulfosalt mineral of silver, copper, iron, antimony and arsenic with formula (Ag,Cu,Fe)12(Sb,As)4S13. It has cubic crystals and is formed in hydrothermal deposits. It forms one solid solution series with tetrahedrite and another with argentotennantite. Freibergite is an opaque, metallic steel grey to black and leaves a reddish-black streak. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4.0 and a specific gravity of 4.85 to 5. It is typically massive to granular in habit with no cleavage and an irregular fracture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevorite</span> Rare nickel iron oxide mineral

Trevorite is a rare nickel iron oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. It has the chemical formula NiFe3+2O4. It is a black mineral with the typical spinel properties of crystallising in the cubic system, black streaked, infusible and insoluble in most acids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loellingite</span> Iron arsenide mineral

Loellingite, also spelled löllingite, is an iron arsenide mineral with formula FeAs2. It is often found associated with arsenopyrite (FeAsS) from which it is hard to distinguish. Cobalt, nickel and sulfur substitute in the structure. The orthorhombic lollingite group includes the nickel iron arsenide rammelsbergite and the cobalt iron arsenide safflorite. Leucopyrite is an old synonym for loellingite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sperrylite</span>

Sperrylite is a platinum arsenide mineral with the chemical formula PtAs2 and is an opaque metallic tin white mineral which crystallizes in the isometric system with the pyrite group structure. It forms cubic, octahedral or pyritohedral crystals in addition to massive and reniform habits. It has a Mohs hardness of 6–7 and a very high specific gravity of 10.6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breithauptite</span> Nickel antimonide mineral

Breithauptite is a nickel antimonide mineral with the simple formula NiSb. Breithauptite is a metallic opaque copper-red mineral crystallizing in the hexagonal - dihexagonal dipyramidal crystal system. It is typically massive to reniform in habit, but is observed as tabular crystals. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4 and a specific gravity of 8.23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spherocobaltite</span> Cobalt carbonate mineral

Spherocobaltite or sphaerocobaltite is a cobalt carbonate mineral with chemical composition CoCO3. In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color, but impure specimens can be shades of pink to pale brown. It crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krutovite</span>

Krutovite is a cubic nickel diarsenide with a chemical composition of NiAs2 and a sulfur content of 0.02-0.34 weight percent. Krutovite is composed of nickel and arsenic with trace to minor amounts of cobalt, iron, copper, sulfur, and antimony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarrabus-Gerrei</span> Sub-region of south-eastern Sardinia, Italy

Sarrabus-Gerrei is a sub-region of south-eastern Sardinia, Italy.

Guettardite is a rare arsenic-antimony lead sulfosalt mineral with the chemical formula Pb(Sb,As)2S4. It forms gray black metallic prismatic to acicular crystals with monoclinic symmetry. It is a dimorph of the triclinic twinnite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millerite</span> Nickel sulfide mineral

Millerite or nickel blende is a nickel sulfide mineral, NiS. It is brassy in colour and has an acicular habit, often forming radiating masses and furry aggregates. It can be distinguished from pentlandite by crystal habit, its duller colour, and general lack of association with pyrite or pyrrhotite.

References

  1. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ↑ Webmineral data
  4. 1 2 Mindat with location data
  5. ↑ Miers, A.H. (1891). "The Tetardohedrism of Ullmannite". Mineralogical Magazine. 9 (43): 211–213. Bibcode:1891MinM....9..211M. doi:10.1180/minmag.1891.009.43.03.
  6. ↑ Takeuchi, Y. (1957). "The Absolute Structure of Ullmannite, NiSbS". Mineralogical Journal. 2 (2): 90–102. Bibcode:1957MinJ....2...90T. doi: 10.2465/minerj1953.2.90 .[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Zhu, Y.; An, F. (2010). "Native Antimony in the Baogutu gold deposit( West Junggar, NW China): Its occurrence and origin". Ore Geology Reviews. 37 (3–4): 214–223. Bibcode:2010OGRv...37..214A. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2010.03.005.
  8. ↑ Klein, C.; P. Jannasch (1888). "Ullmannite from Lölling and from Sarrabus. (Jahrb. F. Min., 1887, ii, Mem., 169–173)". Journal of the Chemical Society, Abstracts. 54: 31. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Geographie".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.