Nierite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Formula:
Si3N4
Colour:
colorless
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
9
Specific Gravity:
3.167 - 3.171
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in 1995 by Martin R. Lee, Sara S. Russell, John W. Arden, and C.T. Pillinger in honor of Alfred Otto Carl Nier (May 28, 1911 – May 16, 1994), physicist and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was responsible for the now accepted measurement of the atmospheric N-isotope composition. Also was instrumental in the development of mass spectrometry (especially stable isotope mass spectroscopy).
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
A very rare natural nitride, originally formed in star dust and now found in meteorites.
Synthetic silicon nitride is a very important high-performance ceramic.
Synthetic silicon nitride is a very important high-performance ceramic.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7193
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7193:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
39f42a8f-4185-4c00-b077-21d9d28cee0a
IMA Classification of Nierite
Approved
Classification of Nierite
1.DB.05
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
D : Nonmetallic Carbides and Nitrides
B : Nonmetallic nitrides
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
D : Nonmetallic Carbides and Nitrides
B : Nonmetallic nitrides
Dana 7th ed.:
1.3.9.1
1.3.10.1
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
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 |
---|---|---|
Nr | 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 Nierite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
colorless
Hardness:
9 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=2600 - 3500 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
3.167 - 3.171 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.11 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nierite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.030 nε = 2.020
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
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:
Very High
Chemistry of Nierite
Mindat Formula:
Si3N4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Nierite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3 1c
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.74(2) Å, c = 5.61(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.725
Unit Cell V:
291.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012185 | Nierite | Yang P, Fun H-K, Rahman I A, Saleh M I (1995) Two phase refinements of the structures of a-Si3N4 and B-Si3N4 made from rice husk by Rietveld analysis Ceramics International 21 137-142 | 1995 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0014238 | Nierite | Kohatsu I, McCauley J W (1974) Re-examination of the crystal structure of alpha-Si3N4 Materials Research Bulletin 9 917-920 | 1974 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0014301 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001238 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014302 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001239 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014303 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001240 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014304 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001241 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014305 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001242 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014306 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001243 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014307 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001244 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014308 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001245 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014309 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001246 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014310 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001247 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014311 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001248 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014312 | Nierite | Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1983) Modifications structurales du nitrure de silicium en fonction de la temperature _cod_database_code 1001249 Materials Research Bulletin 18 921-934 | 1983 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.31 Å | (32) |
2.15 Å | (32) |
2.87 Å | (28) |
2.59 Å | (28) |
6.70 Å | (17) |
3.35 Å | (17) |
2.81 Å | (17) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Pre-terrestrial "Ur-minerals" | >4.57 |
1 : Stellar atmosphere condensates |
Type Occurrence of Nierite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Lee, M.R., Russell, S.S., Arden, J.W., Pillinger, C.T. (1995) Nierite (Si3N4), a new mineral from ordinary and enstatite chondrites, Meteoritics: 30: 387-398.
Synonyms of Nierite
Other Language Names for Nierite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
1.DB.10 | Sinoite | Si2N2O |
Other Information
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 Nierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7193.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Nierite
Localities for Nierite
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.
Algeria | |
| Lee et al. (1995) |
Australia | |
| Stroud et al. (2006) |
Azerbaijan (TL) | |
| Meteoritics +2 other references |
Brazil | |
| Pires et al. (2014) |
China | |
| Lin et al. (2002) |
Czech Republic | |
| Lee M R et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Lee M R et al. (1995) |
Outer Space | |
Quick NavTopUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List