Nickelalumite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Nickelalumite
Formula:
NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3
Originally assumed to be (Ni,Cu)Al^4(SO^4,(NO^3)^2)(OH)^12.3H^2O.
Colour:
Colourless to blue to pistachio-green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.231 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
For the nickel content and relationship to alum
Type Locality:
Chalcoalumite Group. The Ni analogue of chalcoalumite.
Originally reported from Mbobo Mkulu Cave, Nelspruit District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
Originally reported from Mbobo Mkulu Cave, Nelspruit District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2899
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2899:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8ed502ae-2ef1-4722-b8af-f54e966c7f0f
IMA Classification of Nickelalumite
Approved
First published:
2023
Approval history:
Nickelalumite was rejected because of some problems with chemical composition in 1980. Approved as a new mineral species by the IMA-CNMNC, 2022-071.
Classification of Nickelalumite
7.DD.75
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
31.3.1.2
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)5(XO4)Zq·xH2O
31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)5(XO4)Zq·xH2O
13.13
13 : Nitrates
13 : Nitrates
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 |
---|---|---|
Nal | 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 Nickelalumite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless to blue to pistachio-green
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Parallel to {001}.
Parallel to {001}.
Parting:
None
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
2.231 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nickelalumite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.542(2) nγ = 1.533(2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.009
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
medium
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
β could not be measured due to the almost negligible thickness of the flakes.
Chemistry of Nickelalumite
Mindat Formula:
NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3
Originally assumed to be (Ni,Cu)Al^4(SO^4,(NO^3)^2)(OH)^12.3H^2O.
Originally assumed to be (Ni,Cu)Al^4(SO^4,(NO^3)^2)(OH)^12.3H^2O.
Crystallography of Nickelalumite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.2567(5) Å, b = 8.8815(4) Å, c = 17.0989(8) Å
β = 95.548(1)°
β = 95.548(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.155 : 1 : 1.925
Unit Cell V:
1550.3 ų
Z:
4
Comment:
Space group: P21/n
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.35 Å | (100) |
4.27 Å | (90) |
3.02 Å | (60) |
2.683 Å | (60) |
2.508 Å | (80) |
2.276 Å | (70) |
1.981 Å | (90) |
1.480 Å | (60) |
Type Occurrence of Nickelalumite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pale-blue to greenish crusts of radiating lamellar aggregates of crystals up to 1.5 mm on the surface of carbon-rich siliceous schist.
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 6794.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Nickelalumite formed by hydrothermal alteration of U–V bearing carbon-rich silicified schists.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Nickelalumite
German:Nickelalumit
Spanish:Nickelalumita
Relationship of Nickelalumite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Kyrgyzstanite | ZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m |
Mbobomkulite | (Ni,Cu)Al4((NO3)2,SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.DD. | Asagiite | NiCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.05 | Felsőbányaite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2O |
7.DD.07 | Llantenesite | Cu6Al[SeO4](OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
7.DD.10 | Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
7.DD.10 | Posnjakite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · H2O |
7.DD.10 | Wroewolfeite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
7.DD.10 | Gobelinite | CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.10 | Fehrite | MgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.15 | Spangolite | Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
7.DD.15 | Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.15 | Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline) | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.20 | Ktenasite | ZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.DD.25 | Christelite | Cu2Zn3(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.30 | Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.30 | Serpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.30 | Niedermayrite | CdCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.30 | Edwardsite | Cu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.35 | Carrboydite | (Ni1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Glaucocerinite | (Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Honessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Hydrohonessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Motukoreaite | Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Mountkeithite | [(Mg1-xFe3+x)(OH)2][SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Wermlandite | Mg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Woodwardite | Cu1-xAlx(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Zincaluminite | Zn6Al6(SO4)2(OH)16 · 5H2O |
7.DD.35 | Hydrowoodwardite | (Cu1-xAlx)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Zincowoodwardite | Zn1-xAlx(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
7.DD.35 | Natroglaucocerinite | Zn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.35 | Nikischerite | Fe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
7.DD.40 | Isselite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
7.DD.40 | Lawsonbauerite | (Mn2+,Mg)9Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
7.DD.40 | Torreyite | (Mg,Mn2+)7◻2Mn2+2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
7.DD.45 | Mooreite | Mg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O |
7.DD.45 | Hodgesmithite | (Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.47 | Lahnsteinite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
7.DD.50 | Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O |
7.DD.50 | Minohlite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 8H2O |
7.DD.52 | Lauraniite | Cu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2O |
7.DD.55 | Bechererite | Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)] |
7.DD.60 | Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O |
7.DD.65 | Vonbezingite | Ca6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12 · 2H2O |
7.DD.70 | Redgillite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · H2O |
7.DD.75 | Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
7.DD.75 | Kyrgyzstanite | ZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
7.DD.80 | Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
7.DD.80 | Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.80 | Thérèsemagnanite | NaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
7.DD.80 | UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn | (Zn,Cu)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
7.DD.85 | Montetrisaite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Nickelalumite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in hot (1:1) HCl.
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 Nickelalumite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2899.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Nickelalumite
Reference List:
Uvarova, Y. A., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F. C., Karpenko, V. V., Agakhanov, A. A., Pautov, L. A. (2005) The crystal chemistry of the "nickelalumite"–group minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (5) 1511-1519 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.5.1511
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2022) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 70. European Journal of Mineralogy, 34 (6) 591-601 doi:10.5194/ejm-34-591-2022
Karpenko, Vladimir Yu., Agakhanov, Atali A., Pautov, Leonid A., Bekenova, Galiya K., Uvarova, Yulia A., Sokolova, Elena, Dikaya, Tamara V., Hawthorne, Frank C. (2023) Nickelalumite, ideally NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3, a new-old mineral from the Kara-Tangi uranium deposit, Kyrgyzstan. Mineralogy and Petrology, 117 (2) 219-229 doi:10.1007/s00710-023-00832-3
Localities for Nickelalumite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| New Data on Minerals: 39: 32-39. +2 other references |
| Uvarova et al. (2005) +4 other references |
South Africa | |
| Ann.Geol.Surv.S.Africa (1980) +1 other reference |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
USA | |
| Desor (11/2020) |
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Mbobo Mkulu Cave, Mbombela, Mbombela Local Municipality, Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa