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Hellyerite

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Big Photo

Lord Brassey Mine, Heazlewood district, Tasmania, Australia
© R Bottrill 2006

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Formula:
NiCO
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicHardness:2½
Name:In honour of Henry Hellyer (1791–1832), first Surveyor-General of the Van Diemen’s Land Company and explorer of northwestern Tasmania.


Hellyerite is relatively unstable and, if not kept in an air-tight environment, the (originally) blue mineral decomposes in time to an X-ray amorphous, zaratite-like green phase (Anderson et al., 2002; Bottrill & Baker, 2008).

Classification of Hellyerite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/D.01-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.CA.20

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:15.1.7.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.14.4

11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Hellyerite

Type Locality:Lord Brassey Mine, Heazlewood district, Tasmania, Australia
Year of Discovery:1958

Physical Properties of Hellyerite

Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Hellyerite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.77Å, b = 7.29Å, c = 18.68Å
β = 94°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.477 : 1 : 2.562
Unit Cell Volume:V nan ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Hellyerite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.455 nβ = 1.503 nγ = 1.549
2V:Measured: 85° , Calculated: 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.094

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v distinct

Chemical Properties of Hellyerite

Formula:
NiCO
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, H, Ni, O
All elements listed in formula:C, H, Ni, O

Relationship of Hellyerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.CA.05Nesquehonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.CA.10Lansfordite
MgCO
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.CA.15Barringtonite
MgCO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.14.1Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
11.14.2Kolwezite
(Cu,Co)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
11.14.3Nullaginite
Ni
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
11.14.5Otwayite
Ni
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
11.14.6Zaratite
Ni
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
11.14.7Kambaldaite
NaNi
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.14.8Glaukosphaerite
(Cu,Ni)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
11.14.9Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
11.14.10Reevesite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(OH)
 
16
(CO
 
3
) · 4H
 
2
O
11.14.11Comblainite
Ni
 
4
Co
 
2
(OH)
 
12
[CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
11.14.12Szymańskiite
Hg
 
16
(Ni,Mg)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
12
(OH)
 
12
 · 11H
 
2
O

Other Names for Hellyerite

Other Languages:
German:Hellyerit
Spanish:Hellyerita

Other Information

Special Storage/
Display Requirements from:
Lord Brassey Mine, Heazlewood district, Tasmania, Australiahellyerite is relatively unstable and, if not kept in an air-tight environment, hellyerite decomposes in time to an uidentified poorly crystalline phase.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Hellyerite

Reference List:

- +
Williams, K.L., I.M. Threadgold, and A.W. Hounslow (1959) Hellyerite, a new nickel carbonate from Heazlewood, Tasmania. Amer. Mineral., 44, 533–538.

Threadgold, I.M. (1963) The crystal structure of hellyerite and nacrite. Dissertation Abs., 24(1), 252–253.

Anderson, P., et al. (2002): Famous mineral localities: The Lord Brassey mine, Tasmania. Mineralogical Record. 33, 321-332.

Bottrill, R. S. & Baker, W. E. (2008): A Catalogue of the Minerals of Tasmania. Geological Survey Bulletin 73, Mineral Resources Tasmania, 254 pp.

Powder Diffraction File: 24-523.

Internet Links for Hellyerite

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    • Localities for Hellyerite

    The 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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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Heazlewood district
    		Anderson, P., Bottrill, R. & Davidson, P. (2002): Famous mineral localities: The Lord Brassey mine, Tasmania. Mineralogical Record 33, 321-332 ; American Mineralogist: 44: 533-538
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Mabilikewe Hill
    		Minerals of South Africa
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