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Polydymite

Big Photo

Grüneau Mine (Grüne Au Mine; Grünau Mine), Schutzbach, Betzdorf, Siegerland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Polydymite Photos (7)
Formula:
Ni
2+
 
Ni
3+
2
S
 
4
System:IsometricColour:Violet gray, copper red, ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:4½ - 5½
Name:From the Greek πολνς, many, and διδνμος, twin, because it was observed in twinned forms.


Linnaeite Group, and the Thiospinel Group. Linnaeite-Polydymite Series.

Classification of Polydymite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.01-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.DA.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
A : M:S = 3:4
Dana 8th edition ID:2.10.1.7

2 : SULFIDES
10 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:4
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.11.4

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 Polydymite

Type Locality:Grüneau Mine (Grüne Au Mine; Grünau Mine), Schutzbach, Betzdorf, Siegerland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Year of Discovery:1876

Physical Properties of Polydymite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Violet gray, copper red, light gray, or steel gray
Streak:Black gray
Hardness (Mohs):4½ - 5½

Crystallography of Polydymite

Crystal System:Isometric
Cell Parameters:a = 9.48Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 851.97 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Polydymite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Polydymite

Formula:
Ni
2+
 
Ni
3+
2
S
 
4
Essential elements:Ni, S
All elements listed in formula:Ni, S
Common Impurities:Fe,Co

Relationship of Polydymite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Linnaeite (see here)
Forms a series with Violarite (see here)
Member of Group:
Thiospinel Group:
AB
 
2
X
 
4
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.DA.05Bornhardtite
Co
2+
 
Co
3+
2
Se
 
4
2.DA.05Carrollite
Cu(Co,Ni)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Cuproiridsite
(Cu,Fe)Ir
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Cuprorhodsite
(Cu,Fe)Rh
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Daubréelite
Fe
2+
 
Cr
3+
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Fletcherite
Cu(Ni,Co)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Florensovite
(Cu,Zn)Cr
 
1.5
Sb
 
0.5
S
 
4
2.DA.05Greigite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Indite
FeIn
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Kalininite
ZnCr
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Linnaeite
Co
2+
 
Co
3+
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Malanite
Cu(Pt
3+
 
,Ir
3+
 
)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Siegenite
from CoNi
 
2
S
 
4
 to NiCo
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Trüstedtite
Ni
 
3
Se
 
4
2.DA.05Tyrrellite
Cu(Co
3+
 
,Ni
3+
 
)
 
2
Se
 
4
2.DA.05Violarite
Fe
2+
 
Ni
3+
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Xingzhongite
(Pb,Cu,Fe)(Ir,Pt,Rh)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Ferrorhodsite
(Fe,Cu)(Rh,Ir,Pt)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.05Cadmoindite
CdIn
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.10Rhodostannite
Cu
 
2
FeSn
 
3
S
 
8
2.DA.10Toyohaite
Ag
 
2
FeSn
 
3
S
 
8
2.DA.15Brezinaite
Cr
 
3
S
 
4
2.DA.15Heideite
(Fe,Cr)
 
1.15
(Ti,Fe)
 
2
S
 
4
2.DA.20Inaglyite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Ir,Pt)
 
8
S
 
16
2.DA.20Konderite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Rh,Pt,Ir)
 
8
S
 
16
2.DA.25Kingstonite
(Rh,Ir,Pt)
 
3
S
 
4
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
3.11.5Vaesite
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
from CoNi
 
2
S
 
4
 to NiCo
 
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 (?)
3.11.22Melonite
NiTe
 
2
3.11.23Kitkaite
NiTeSe
3.11.24Dienerite
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
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 Polydymite

Synonyms:
GrünauiteNickel Linnaeite
Other Languages:
German:Polydymit
Saynit
Russian:Полидимит
Spanish:Polydymita

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 Polydymite

Reference List:Zambonini (1916): Riv. min.: 47.

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: 262-265.

Mineralogical Magazine (1980): 43: 733-739.

American Mineralogist (1985): 70: 1036-1043.

Internet Links for Polydymite

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    Localities for Polydymite

    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.
    (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 .
    • Western Australia
      • Coolgardie
    		J. Just and C.E. Feather, Am. Min., June 1978, Vol. 42, p. 278.
      • Goldfields-Esperance region
        • Kalgoorlie-Boulder City
          • Kalgoorlie
    		Nickel Mineralisation in Western Australia by R.J. Marston 1984.
    Nickel Mineralisation in Western Australia by R.J. Marston 1984.
      • Pilbara Region
        • East Pilbara Shire
          • Nullagine
    		Nickel, E. H.; Hallbert, J. A.; Halligan, R. (1979): Unusual nickel mineralization at Nullagine, Western Australia. Journal of the Geological Society of Australia 26, 61-71. ; Am Min 73:11-12 p 1496
      • Wiluna Shire
        • Mount Keith
    		Grguric, B.A. (2003) Minerals of the MKD5 nickel deposit, Mount Keith, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, Vol. 9, No. 2 , pg. 55-71.
        • Wiluna
    		Nickel Mineralisation in Western Australia by R.J. Marston 1984.
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Saalfelden
        • Leogang
          • Hütten
            • Schwarzleograben
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
              • Schwarzleo District
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
              • Vogel Alp
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    Bulgaria
     
    • Haskovo Oblast (Khaskovo Oblast)
      • Rhodope Mts
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Mackenzie District
        • Great Bear Lake
          • Port Radium
    		Kidd & Haycock (1935).
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Lower Shebandowan Lake
    		R.J. Traill 1983
    • Québec
      • Chaudière-Appalaches
        • Montmagny RCM
          • St-Fabien-de-Panet
    		Econ Geology (1993)88:123-138
    • Yukon Territory
      • Watson Lake Mining District
    		 Yukon Geological Survey
        • St Cyr Range
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Canadian Mineralogist (1984): 22: 561-564.
    China
     
    • Gansu (Ganzu) Province
      • Gannan Autonomous Prefecture
        • Luqu Co.
          • Western Qinling gold belt
    		Jiajun Liu, Minghua Zheng, Jianming Liu, and Wenchao Su (2000): Ore Geology Reviews 17, 91-111.
    • Guizhou Province
      • Zunyi Prefecture
        • Zunyi Co.
          • Zunyi Ni-Mo-PGE-Au deposit
    		Coveney, R.M., Grauch, R.I., and Murowchick, J.B. (1993), In: Reddy, R.G., and Weizenbach, R.N. (eds): The minerals, metals and materials society, Proceedings of the Paul E. Queneau International Symposium "Extractive Metallurgy of Copper, Nickel and Cobalt", 369–375.
    • Hebei Province
      • Chengde Prefecture
        • Fengning Co.
    		Yu Zuxiang (1982): Bull. Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 4, 78–81.
    • Hunan Province
      • Zhangjiajie Prefecture
        • Cili Co.
    		Wallis, E. (2006): PhD Thesis, Technical University of Berlin, Germany (in German with English abstract), Vol. 1, 136-154.
    • Shaanxi Province
      • Baoji Prefecture
        • Taibai Co.
          • Western Qinling gold belt
    		Jingwen Mao, Yumin Qiu, Goldfarb, R.J., Zhaochong Zhang, Garwin, S., and Ren Fengshou (2002): Mineralium Deposita 37(3/4), 352-377.
      • Hanzhong Prefecture
        • Ningqiang Co.
          • Western Qinling gold belt
            • Jianchaling Mine
    		Zhang Benren, Chen Dexing, and Hu Yikeng (1986): Journal of China University of Geoscience 11(4), 351-365.
    • Shandong Province
      • Linyi Prefecture
        • Yimeng Mts (Yimeng Shan)
          • Mengyin Co.
            • Mengyin Kimberlite field
              • Changma Kimberlite belt
                • Wangcun deposit
    		Gorshkov, A.I., Titkov, S.V., Yan Nan Bao, Ryabchikov, I.D., and Magazina, L.O. (2006): Geology of Ore Deposits 48(4), 326-334.
    • Sichuan Province
      • Ngawa (Aba) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Ruo'ergai Co. (Zoigê Co.)
    		Li Chaoyang (1996), In: Tu Guangzhi (ed.): "Geochemistry of Strata-Bound Deposits in China", Science Press (Beijing), 508-527.
          • Western Qinling gold belt
    		Jiajun Liu, Minghua Zheng, Jianming Liu, and Wenchao Su (2000): Ore Geology Reviews 17, 91-111.
    • Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region
      • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Prefecture
        • Hami (Kumul; Qumul) Co.
          • Huangshan-Jing'erquan ore belt
    		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)
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
    		MinRec 20:287-288
    Finland
     
    • Lapin (Lapland) Lääni
      • Portimo complex
    • Oulun (Oulu) Lääni
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Am Min 50:581-586
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Meschede
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G., (1990): Ramsbeck - Neue Minerale aus dem ehemaligen Blei-Zink-Erzrevier des Sauerlandes, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 41 (4), 211-218
      • Siegerland
        • Eiserfeld
          • Kohlenbach Valley
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Müsen
    		Der Aufschluss 2000(2), 71-123
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Siegerland
        • Betzdorf
          • Schutzbach
    		Min Mag 43 (1980), 733; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Gebhardshain
          • Kausen
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundstellen in Deutschland", 2001
        • Niederfischbach
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
        • Wissen
          • Voßwinkel
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
      • Westerwald
        • Wied Iron Spar District
          • Altenkirchen
            • Bürdenbach
    		No reference listed
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Nuuk (Godthåb)
    		Petersen, O. V. & Secher, K. (1993): The Minerals of Greenland. Mineralogical Record 24 (2): 1-67
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Saitama Prefecture
          • Chichibu City
            • Urayama
    		K. Nishikubo, T. Yamada, A. Harada, M. Takizawa, K. Tange, Y. Kosuge, R. Miyawaki, and S. Matsubara (2005) "Rambergite from the Hirogawara mine, Urayama, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan"
      • Kinki region
        • Mie Prefecture
          • Toba City
    • Kyushu Island
      • Fukuoka prefecture
        • Sannotake mine
    		Econ.Geol.: 83; 395-404
    Korea
     
    • Kwancheon
    		No reference listed
    Namibia
     
    • Kunene Region
      • Swartbooisdrif
        • Orotumba
    		von Seckendorff, V., Drüppel, K., Okrusch, M., Cook, N.J., and Littmann, S. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 430-450.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug
        • Taimyr Peninsula
          • Putoran Plateau
    		Spiridonov, E.M., Gritsenko, Y.D., and Ponomarenko, A.I. (2008): Geology of Ore Deposits 50(8), 755-762.
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Rochovce
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    Ďuďa R., Peterec D., 1995 : Die Mineralien der siderit - baryt lagersttäte von Rudňany ( Kotterbach ) in der Slowakei. Mineralien Welt /Haltern/, 1, s.20 - 31
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Mabilikewe Hill
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Málaga
        • Sierra Alpujata
    		I. S. Oen, C. Kieft, E.A.J. Burke, A.B. Westerhof : "Orcelite and associated minerals in the Ni-Fe-As-S system in chromitites and orthopyroxenites of Nebral, Malaga, Spain", Bull. Minéral., 1980, 103, 198-208
    • Aragón
      • Teruel
        • Lanzuela
    		LAN1
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Boulder Co.
        • Gold Hill District
          • Gold Hill
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997; Rocks & Min.: 16:413; 22:205.
    • Illinois
      • Hancock Co.
        • Plymouth
    		Min Rec 36:5 pp 421-431
    • Massachusetts
      • Middlesex Co.
        • Dracut
    		Gleba, 1978. Massachusetts Mineral & Fossil Localities
    • Missouri
      • Crawford Co.
    		R&M 73:2 pp 98-117
      • Iron Co.
        • Viburnum Trend District
          • Bixby
    		Lapis 17(1), 15-23 (1992); U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    Rocks & Min. Mar. 1998
    Min News 5:3 p6
      • Reynolds Co.
        • Viburnum Trend District
          • Centerville
    		Lapis 17(1), 15-23 (1992)
          • Ellington
    		Rocks & Min.: 64:22&26.; U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
      • Washington Co.
        • Viburnum Trend District
    		Lapis 17(1), 15-23 (1992)
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Bunkerville District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
          • Whitney Pocket Basin
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Mashonaland Central
      • Bindura District
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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