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Melonite

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Zod Mine (Sotk deposit), Vardenis, Gelark'unik' (Geghark'unik') Province, Armenia
© Brent Thorne

Show Melonite Photos (3)
Formula:
NiTe
 
2
System:TrigonalHardness:1 - 1½
Name:After the type locality - the Melones Mine, Calaveras County, California.


Melonite-Merenskyite Series.

Classification of Melonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.28-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.EA.20

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.12.14.1

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.11.22

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
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Type Occurrence of Melonite

Type Locality:Stanislaus Mine, Carson Hill, Angels Camp, Calaveras Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1868

Physical Properties of Melonite

Hardness (Mohs):1 - 1½

Crystallography of Melonite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 3.84Å, c = 5.26Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.37
Unit Cell Volume:V 67.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Melonite

Formula:
NiTe
 
2
Essential elements:Ni, Te
All elements listed in formula:Ni, Te
Common Impurities:Pd,Pt,Ag,Bi

Relationship of Melonite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Merenskyite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.EA.05Sylvanite
(Au,Ag)
 
2
Te
 
4
2.EA.10Calaverite
AuTe
 
2
2.EA.15Kostovite
CuAuTe
 
4
2.EA.15Krennerite
(Au,Ag)Te
 
2
2.EA.20Berndtite
SnS
 
2
2.EA.20Kitkaite
NiTeSe
2.EA.20Merenskyite
(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)
 
2
2.EA.20Moncheite
(Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)
 
2
2.EA.20Shuangfengite
IrTe
 
2
2.EA.20Sudovikovite
PtSe
 
2
2.EA.25Verbeekite
PdSe
 
2
2.EA.30Drysdallite
Mo(Se,S)
 
2
2.EA.30Jordisite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Molybdenite
MoS
 
2
2.EA.30Tungstenite
WS
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
3.11.1Heazlewoodite
Ni
 
3
S
 
2
3.11.2Godlevskite
(Ni,Fe)
 
9
S
 
8
3.11.3Millerite
NiS
3.11.4Polydymite
Ni
2+
 
Ni
3+
2
S
 
4
3.11.5Vaesite
NiS
 
2
3.11.6Shandite
Ni
 
3
Pb
 
2
S
 
2
3.11.7Donharrisite
Ni
 
8
Hg
 
3
S
 
9
3.11.8Violarite
Fe
2+
 
Ni
3+
2
S
 
4
3.11.9Pentlandite
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
3.11.10Bravoite
(Fe,Ni)S
 
2
3.11.11Siegenite
CoNi
 
2
S
 
4
3.11.12Fletcherite
Cu(Ni,Co)
 
2
S
 
4
3.11.13Villamanínite
(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S
 
2
3.11.14Mäkinenite
γ-NiSe
3.11.15Sederholmite
NiSe Beta-NiSe
3.11.16Trüstedtite
Ni
 
3
Se
 
4
3.11.17Wilkmanite
Ni
 
3
Se
 
4
3.11.18Kullerudite
NiSe
 
2
3.11.19Penroseite
(Ni,Co,Cu)Se
 
2
3.11.20Tyrrellite
Cu(Co
3+
 
,Ni
3+
 
)
 
2
Se
 
4
3.11.21Imgreite
NiTe (?)
3.11.23Kitkaite
NiTeSe
3.11.24Dienerite
Ni
 
3
As
3.11.25Orcelite
Ni
 
5-x
As
 
2
3.11.26Maucherite
Ni
 
11
As
 
8
3.11.27Nickeline
NiAs
3.11.28Rammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
3.11.29Pararammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
3.11.30Nickelskutterudite
NiAs
 
2-3
3.11.31Oregonite
Ni
 
2
FeAs
 
2
3.11.32Westerveldite
(Fe,Ni,Co)As
3.11.33Langisite
(Co,Ni)As ratio Co:Ni = 5:1
3.11.34Gersdorffite
NiAsS
3.11.35Jolliffeite
NiAsSe
3.11.36Breithauptite
NiSb
3.11.38Ullmannite
NiSbS
3.11.39Willyamite
(Co,Ni)SbS

Other Names for Melonite

German names:
Melonit
Russian names:
Мелонит
Spanish names:
Melonita
Varieties:
Palladian MelonitePalladoan Melonite

Other Information

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 Melonite

Reference List:Genth (1868) American Journal of Science: 45: 313.

Hillebrand, William Francis (1899), Mineralogical notes: melonite (?), coloradoite, petzite, hessite American Journal of Science, 4th. series: 8: 295-298.

Ramdohr (1937) Zbl. Min.: A: 193.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 341.

Canadian Mineralogist (1969): 9: 626.

Internet Links for Melonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Melonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Melonite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Catamarca
      • Andalgalá
    • Salta
      • Organullo Mining District
    • San Luis
    Armenia
     
    • Gelark'unik' (Geghark'unik') Province
      • Vardenis
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • North Flinders Ranges
          • Wooltana homestead area
          • Worturpa
    • Western Australia
      • Coolgardie Shire
    		J. F. Carpentier collection
      • Kalgoorlie
    		Canadian Mineralogist (2003) 41, 1503-1524
      • West Musgrave Block
    		Mineral. Deposita 42 (2007) 551-581.
      • Yilgarn Shire
    		Sung, Y.-H., et al., "Tellurides from the Sunrise Dam gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: a new occurrence of nagyagite", Mineralogy & Petrology 91, 249-270(2007)
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Lungau
        • Murwinkel
          • Schellgaden
            • Gold mines
    		C. Auer: Lapis 20(11):11-20 (1995)
            • Katschberg Mt.
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    Belgium
     
    • Luxembourg Province
      • Stavelot Massif
    		No reference listed
    [var: Palladian Melonite] No reference listed
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Marathon
          • Hemlo gold deposit
    		Dana's New Mineralogy
      • Timiskaming District
        • Gauthier Township
          • Kirkland Lake area
    		Geological Survey of Canada Paper 73-30
    Geological Survey of Canada Paper 73-30
    • Québec
      • Abitibi Co.
        • Montbray Township
    • Yukon Territory
      • Whitehorse Mining District
        • Kluane District
    		[var: Palladoan Melonite] No reference listed
    China
     
    • Gansu (Ganzu) Province
      • Jinchang Prefecture
        • Jinchuan District
    		Gang Chai, Naldrett, A.J., Rucklidge, J.C., and Kilius, L.R. (1993): Canadian Mineralogist 31, 19-30.
    • Henan Province
      • Luoyang Prefecture
        • Luanchuan Co.
          • Xiaoqinling gold belt
    		Jianong Zhao, Fugen Ren, Zenghui Li, and Shiying Ding (1997): Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica 16(1), 75-80.
        • Luoning Co.
          • Xiaoqinling gold belt
    		Yanjing Chen, Pirajno, F., and Jinping Qi (2007): Journal of Asian Earth Sciences (in press).
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Baotou League
        • Baotou City
          • Wulashan Mining District
    		Fengjun Nie, Sihong Jiang, Xinxu Su, and Xinliang Wang (2002): Ore Geology Reviews 20, 139-169.
      • Hohhot (Huhehaote) League
        • Wuchuan Co.
    		Fengjun Nie, Sihong Jiang, Xinxu Su, and Xinliang Wang (2002): Ore Geology Reviews 20, 139-169.
    • Shandong Province
      • Linyi Prefecture
        • Pingyi Co.
          • Tongshi complex
    		Qiu Jiansheng, Wang Dezi, Ren Qijiang, and McInnes, B.I.A. (1999): Journal of China University of Geosciences 10(1).
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Yili Hasake (Ili Kazakh) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Aletai (Altay) Prefecture
          • Fuyun Co.
    		Jingwen Mao, Pirajno, F., Zuoheng Zang, Fengmei Chai, Hua Wu, Shiping Chen, Linsong Cheng, Jianmin Yang, and Changqing Zhang (2007): Journal of Asian Earth Sciences (in press).
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Ústí Region
        • Šluknov (Schluckenau)
    		Vavřín, I., Frýda, J.: Pt-Pd-As-Te mineralizace na ložiskách měďnato-niklových rud z Kunratic a Rožan na Šluknovsku. Bulletin of the Czech Geological Survey, 1998, 73, 2, p. 177-180.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
    		MinRec 20:287-288
    Fiji
     
    • Viti Levu
      • Tavua Gold Field
        • Vatukoula
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    J.M. Boirat and J. Lum, Chron. Rech. Min., N° 486, 1987, pp 55-62, BRGM.
    Finland
     
    • Lapin (Lapland) Lääni
      • Koillismaa Complex
      • Sodankylä
    No reference listed
    • Oulun (Oulu) Lääni
      • Kuusamo
    No reference listed
    Am Min 50:581-586
    France
     
    • Corsica
      • Haute-Corse
        • Corte
    		P. Picot, Z. Johan : "Atlas of Ore Minerals", BRGM, Elsevier, 1982
          • Soveria
    		F. Aye, J. Bouladon, P. Picot, G. Pouit : "Quelques exemples d'apport de la minéralogie à la connaissance et à la recherche des gîtes minéraux" , Bull. Mineral. , 1978, 101, 139-147
          • Vivario
    		F. Aye, J. Bouladon, P. Picot, G. Pouit : "Quelques exemples d'apport de la minéralogie à la connaissance et à la recherche des gîtes minéraux" , Bull. Mineral. , 1978, 101, 139-147
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Hautes-Alpes
        • Lautaret pass area
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, P.A. Poulain, "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France : Hautes-Alpes", BRGM, 1972
    Guyana
     
    www.mineralogicalassociation.ca/doc/abstracts/cm3_Vol37_Jun99.pdf.
    Hungary
     
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Recsk
    		No reference listed
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Biella Province
        • Séssera Valley
          • Trivero
    		Piccoli, G. C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., & Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo F. Eusebio - Alba, 607 pag.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku Region
        • Okayama Prefecture
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast
    		http://homepage.usask.ca/~smi454/project/articles/gold2000_ext_abs.htm
    Norway
     
    • Finnmark
      • Kautokeino
    		R. Hagen (1980, pers. com.); Neumann (1985, p. 43).
    • Troms
      • Kvenangen (Kvænangen)
        • Burfjorddalen
    		Strand (1975, p. 299 and 300); Neumann (1985, pp. 31 and 43).
      • Nordreisa (Nord-Reisa)
        • Reisadalen (Ráisávzi; Reisa) Valley
    		Gjelsvik (1956, p. 661); Neumann (1985, p. 43).
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Tuva Republic
        • Sayan Mts
    		No reference listed
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Monche-Tundra
            • Monchegorsk
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Namaqualand
    		Min Rec 35:4 pp289-317
    Sweden
     
    • Jämtland
      • Berg
        • Storsjö
    • Lappland
      • Kiruna
        • Vittangi
    		No reference listed
    • Värmland
      • Årjäng
    		No reference listed
    • Västerbotten
      • Norsjö
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
    		[MinRec 24:421]
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 269, 293; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    • California
      • Calaveras Co.
        • Angels Camp
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    AM 34 (1949), 342; HB1 (1990)
      • Tuolumne Co.
        • Jamestown District
          • Jamestown
    		Native gold from the Jamestown Mine, Tuolumne County, California, Mineralogical Record, Jan 1994 by Nelson, Genne Myers, Leicht, Wayne
    • Colorado
      • Boulder Co.
        • Boulder Co. Tungsten District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
        • Caribou District
          • Grand Island
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Dana 6:76.
        • Gold Hill District
          • Gold Hill
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
        • Magnolia District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
        • Sugarloaf District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
      • Hinsdale Co.
        • Lake City District (Lake District)
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
          • Lake City
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Teller Co.
        • Cripple Creek District
          • Eclipse Gulch
    		Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Missouri
      • Washington Co.
        • Meramec State Park
    		R&M 73:2 pp 98-117
    Mineral and/or Locality
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