Nickelblödite
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Formula:
Na2(Ni,Mg)(SO4)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
Pale yellowish green to pale green
Specific Gravity:
2.43
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for its nickel content and otherwise chemical similarity to blödite.
This page provides mineralogical data about Nickelblödite.
Classification of Nickelblödite
Approved
7.CC.50
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
29.3.3.2
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
25.12.7
25 : Sulphates
12 : Sulphates of Co and Ni
25 : Sulphates
12 : Sulphates of Co and Ni
Physical Properties of Nickelblödite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale yellowish green to pale green
Hardness:
VHN5=104 - 139 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
2.43 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.443(11) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nickelblödite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.513 nβ = 1.518 nγ = 1.520
2V:
Measured: 60° to 70°, Calculated: 64°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.007

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:
Low
Dispersion:
strong
Comments:
colorless to pale green
Chemical Properties of Nickelblödite
Formula:
Na2(Ni,Mg)(SO4)2 · 4H2O
IMA Formula:
Na2Ni(SO4)2 · 4H2O
Crystallography of Nickelblödite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.87 Å, b = 8.07 Å, c = 5.46 Å
β = 100.72°
β = 100.72°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.347 : 1 : 0.677
Unit Cell V:
470.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Comment:
Space group by analogy to bloedite
Type Occurrence of Nickelblödite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
As flat crystallites, to 150 µm; with smooth forms, perhaps rounded by solution, in efflorescences
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Western Australian Museum, Perth, Australia, M.63.1991, M.64.1991, MDC5657; The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1976,378; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 136207.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Nickelblödite
Other Language Names for Nickelblödite
German:Nickelblödit
Spanish:Nickelblödita
Relationship of Nickelblödite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Blödite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Cobaltoblödite | Na2Co(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Manganoblödite | Na2Mn(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
7.CC. | Cobaltoblödite | Na2Co(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC. | Andychristyite | PbCu2+Te6+O5(H2O) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
7.CC. | Ammoniovoltaite | (NH4)2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12(H2O)18 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c |
7.CC.05 | Krausite | KFe(SO4)2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
7.CC.10 | Tamarugite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.15 | Kalinite | KAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
7.CC.15 | Mendozite | NaAl(SO4)2 · 11H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.20 | Lonecreekite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 12H2O | Iso. |
7.CC.20 | Alum-(K) | KAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
7.CC.20 | Alum-(Na) | NaAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
7.CC.20 | Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
7.CC.20 | Lanmuchangite | Tl+Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
7.CC.25 | Voltaite | K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c |
7.CC.25 | Zincovoltaite | K2Zn5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c |
7.CC.25 | Pertlikite | K2(Fe2+,Mg)2Mg4Fe3+2Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd |
7.CC.25 | Ammoniomagnesiovoltaite | (NH4)2Mg2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 · 18H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c |
7.CC.30 | Kröhnkite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.35 | Ferrinatrite | Na3Fe(SO4)3 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
7.CC.40 | Goldichite | KFe(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.45 | Löweite | Na12Mg7(SO4)13 · 15H2O | Trig. |
7.CC.50 | Blödite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.50 | Changoite | Na2Zn(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.55 | Leonite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.55 | Mereiterite | K2Fe(SO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
7.CC.60 | Boussingaultite | (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.60 | Cyanochroite | K2Cu(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.60 | Mohrite | (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.60 | Nickelboussingaultite | (NH4)2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.60 | Picromerite | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.CC.65 | Polyhalite | K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 |
7.CC.70 | Leightonite | K2Ca2Cu(SO4)4 · 2H2O | Tric. |
7.CC.75 | Amarillite | NaFe(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
7.CC.80 | Konyaite | Na2Mg(SO4)2 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.CC.85 | Wattevilleite | Na2Ca(SO4)2 · 4H2O (?) | Orth. |
7.CC.85 | Xocolatlite | Ca2Mn4+2(Te6+O6)2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
25.12.1 | Bieberite | CoSO4 · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
25.12.2 | Cobaltzippeite | Co(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
25.12.3 | Aplowite | (Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
25.12.4 | Moorhouseite | (Co,Ni,Mn)SO4 · 6H2O | Mon. |
25.12.5 | Retgersite | NiSO4 · 6H2O | Tet. 4 2 2 : P41 21 2 |
25.12.6 | Morenosite | NiSO4 · 7H2O | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
25.12.8 | Nickelboussingaultite | (NH4)2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
25.12.9 | Nickelzippeite | Ni2(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)10 · 16H2O | Mon. |
25.12.10 | Dwornikite | (Ni,Fe)SO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
25.12.11 | Honessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O | Trig. |
25.12.12 | Hydrohonessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O | Hex. |
25.12.13 | Nickelhexahydrite | (Ni,Mg,Fe)SO4 · 6H2O | Mon. |
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.
References for Nickelblödite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Fleischer, M., Pabst, A., Mandarino, J.A., Chao, G.Y. (1977) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 62, 1057-1061.
Nickel, E.W., Bridge, P.J. (1977) Nickelblödite, Na2Ni(SO4)2·4H2O, a new mineral from Western Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 41, 37-41.
Delyana M. Marinova, Ekaterina N. Zhecheva, Rositsa R. Kukeva, Pavel V. Markov, Diana D. Nihtianova, Radostina K. Stoyanova (2017): Mixed sodium nickel-manganese sulfates: Crystal structure relationships between hydrates and anhydrous salts. J. Solid State Chem. 250, 49-59.
Internet Links for Nickelblödite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2890.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Nickelblödite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia (TL) | |
| Nickel, E.H., Bridge, P.J. (1977) Nickelblödite, Na₂Ni(SO₄)₂.4H₂O, a new mineral from Western Australia, Mineralogical Magazine, March 1977, Vol.41 pp.37-41. |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1977 41 : 37-41; Min Mag (1979) 43, 97-98; Matthew J. Sciberras, Peter Leverett, Peter A. Williams, David E. Hibbs, Peter J. Downes, Mark D. Welch and Anthony R. Kampf (2013) Paratacamite-(Ni,Cu3(Ni,Cu)Cl2(OH)6, a new mineral from the Carr Boyd Rocks mine, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 17:39-44 |
Germany | |
| Frenzel, M. (2009): Nimit und weitere Neufunde aus der Nickelgrube Sohland a.d. Spree(Sachsen): Lapis 34(4): 44-45 |
Greece | |
| Erik Vercammen collection (purchased; re-analysis showed that ID was wrong) |