Bunsenite

Johanngeorgenstadt, Johanngeorgenstadt District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
© Rob Lavinsky

Formula:

NiO

System:

Isometric

Colour:

Dark pistachio-green

Hardness:

5½

Name:

Named after Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (1811-1899), Professor of Chemistry, Heidelberg

Periclase Group.

A rare nickel oxide.

Classification of Bunsenite

IMA status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Strunz 8th edition ID:

4/A.04-30

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:

4.AB.25

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only

Dana 8th edition ID:

4.2.1.2

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
2 : AX

Hey's CIM Ref.:

7.22.1

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
22 : Oxides of Ni

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Type Occurrence of Bunsenite

Type Locality:

Johanngeorgenstadt, Johanngeorgenstadt District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

Year of Discovery:

1858

Occurrences of Bunsenite

Geological Setting:

Hydrothermal vein, metamorphosed meteorite

Physical Properties of Bunsenite

Lustre:

Vitreous

Diaphaneity (Transparency):

Transparent

Colour:

Dark pistachio-green

Streak:

Brownish-black

Hardness (Mohs):

5½

Density (measured):

6.898 g/cm³

Density (calculated):

6.806 g/cm³

Crystallography of Bunsenite

Crystal System:

Isometric

Class (H-M):

m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral

Space Group:

Fm3m {F4/m 3 2/m}

Cell Parameters:

a = 4.1769Å

Unit Cell Volume:

V 72.87 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Octahedral, sometimes with modifying dodecahedron or cube.

Twinning:

Observed on natural crystals.

Comment:

synthetic

Optical Data of Bunsenite

Type:

Isotropic

RI values:

n = 2.37

Maximum Birefringence:

δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence

Surface Relief:

Very High

Chemical Properties of Bunsenite

Formula:

NiO

Essential elements:

Ni, O

All elements listed in formula:

Ni, O

Relationship of Bunsenite to other Species

4.AB.05

Crednerite

CuMnO

4.AB.10

Tenorite

CuO

4.AB.15

Delafossite

CuFeO

4.AB.15

Mcconnellite

CuCrO

4.AB.20

Bromellite

BeO

4.AB.20

Zincite

(Zn,Mn

,Fe

4.AB.25

Lime

CaO

4.AB.25

Manganosite

MnO

4.AB.25

Monteponite

CdO

4.AB.25

Periclase

MgO

4.AB.25

Wüstite

FeO

4.AB.30

Palladinite

PdO

7.22.3

Theophrastite

Ni(OH)

7.22.4

Jamborite

(Ni

,Ni

,Co,Fe)(OH)

(OH,S,H

7.22.5

Takovite

[(OH)

|CO

] · 4H

7.22.6

Trevorite

7.22.7

Nichromite

(Ni,Co,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Al)

Other Names for Bunsenite

Synonyms:

Nickeloxydul

Other Languages:

German:	Bunsenit
Russian:	Бунзенит
Spanish:	Bunsenita

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 Bunsenite

Reference List:

Bergemann (1858), Journal pr. Chem.: 75: 243 (as nickeloxydul).

Bergemann (1859), Jb. Min.: 450 (as nickeloxydul).

Dana (1868): 135.

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: 500-501.

Bergemann, C. (1858): Ueber einige Nickelerze.- Journal für praktische Chemie [1] 75, 239-244