Nullaginite
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About Nullaginite
Formula:
Ni2(CO3)(OH)2
Colour:
Green
Lustre:
Waxy, Dull
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
3.56
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for the Nullagine district in Western Australia.
Classification of Nullaginite
Approved
Approval year:
1978
5/C.01-70
5.BA.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
16a.3.2.1
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
11.14.3
11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
11 : Carbonates
14 : Carbonates of Co and Ni
Physical Properties of Nullaginite
Waxy, Dull
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Green
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.56 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.10 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nullaginite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.670 nβ = 1.780 nγ = 1.780
Birefringence:
0.11
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.110

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
Dispersion:
r < v perceptible
Chemical Properties of Nullaginite
Formula:
Ni2(CO3)(OH)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Nullaginite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.2363 Å, b = 12.0016 Å, c = 3.0912 Å
β = 90.48°
β = 90.48°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.77 : 1 : 0.258
Unit Cell V:
342.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
P21/*
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.302 Å | (30) |
6.018 Å | (5) |
5.038 Å | (30) |
4.619 Å | (40) |
3.660 Å | (40) |
3.097 Å | (20) |
3.001 Å | (10) |
2.981 Å | (10) |
2.932 Å | (20) |
2.854 Å | (20) |
2.740 Å | (20) |
2.653 Å | (10) |
2.579 Å | (100) |
2.557 Å | (90) |
2.516 Å | (20) |
2.449 Å | (10) |
2.192 Å | (10) |
2.129 Å | (10) |
2.117 Å | (5) |
2.095 Å | (5) |
2.000 Å | (5) |
1.835 Å | (5) |
1.763 Å | (10) |
1.736 Å | (5) |
1.545 Å | (30) |
1.541 Å | (30) |
1.528 Å | (20) |
1.368 Å | (5) |
Comments:
ICDD 35-501. Type material was intergrown with pecoraite
Type Occurrence of Nullaginite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Nullaginite
Other Language Names for Nullaginite
German:Nullaginit
Spanish:Nullaginita
Relationship of Nullaginite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Chukanovite | Fe2+2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Glaukosphaerite | (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Mcguinnessite | (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m |
Parádsasvárite | Zn2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Pokrovskite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. |
Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Zincrosasite | (Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.BA.05 | Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.BA.10 | Georgeite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 · 6H2O | Amor. |
5.BA.10 | Glaukosphaerite | (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.BA.10 | Kolwezite | CuCo(CO3)(OH)2 | Tric. |
5.BA.10 | Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.BA.10 | Mcguinnessite | (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m |
5.BA.10 | Pokrovskite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. |
5.BA.10 | Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.BA.10 | Zincrosasite | (Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. |
5.BA.10 | Chukanovite | Fe2+2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.BA.15 | Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
5.BA.15 | Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
5.BA.20 | Holdawayite | Mn6(CO3)2(OH)7(Cl,OH) | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
5.BA.25 | Defernite | Ca6(CO3)2-x(SiO4)x(OH)7(Cl,OH)1-2x (x | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
5.BA.25 | UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClH | Ca10-11(CO3)7(SiO4)Cl1-2(OH)1-2 | Mon. |
5.BA.30 | Loseyite | (Mn2+,Zn,Mg)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10 | Mon. 2/m |
5.BA.30 | Sclarite | Zn7(CO3)2(OH)10 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
16a.3.2.2 | Chukanovite | Fe2+2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.14.1 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
11.14.2 | Kolwezite | CuCo(CO3)(OH)2 | Tric. |
11.14.4 | Hellyerite | NiCO3 · 5.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
11.14.5 | Otwayite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 · H2O | Orth. |
11.14.6 | Zaratite | Ni3(CO3)(OH)4 · 4H2O ? | Iso. |
11.14.7 | Kambaldaite | NaNi4(CO3)3(OH)3 · 3H2O | Hex. |
11.14.8 | Glaukosphaerite | (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
11.14.9 | Gaspéite | NiCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
11.14.10 | Reevesite | Ni6Fe3+2(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O | Trig. |
11.14.11 | Comblainite | Ni4Co2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O | Trig. |
11.14.12 | Szymańskiite | [H3O]+8[Hg2]2+8(Ni,Mg)6[CO3]12(OH)12 · 3H2O | Hex. |
Fluorescence of Nullaginite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Nullaginite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Nickel, E.H., Berry, L.G. (1981) The new mineral nullaginite and additional data on the related minerals rosasite and glaukosphaerite. Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 315-324.
Fleischer, M., Chao, G.Y., Mandarino, J.A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 67: 857-858.
Perchiazzi, N., Merlino, S. (2006) The malachite-rosasite group: crystal structures of glaukosphaerite and pokrovskite. European Journal of Mineralogy: 18: 787-792. [with comments on probable structure of nullaginite]
Internet Links for Nullaginite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2943.html
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Localities for Nullaginite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Bottrill, R. S. & Baker, W.E. (2008): A Catalogue of The Minerals of Tasmania. Tasmanian Gelogical Survey Bulletin 73, 254 p |
| Nickel E H, Robinson B W, Mumme W G (1993) Widgiemoolthalite: the new Ni analogue of hydromagnesite from Western Australia. American Mineralogist 78, 819-821; Clissold, M. E. (2007) Aspects of the Supergene Geochemistry of Copper, Nickel and Bismuth. PhD Thesis University of Sydney, Australia 162pp. |
| 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. ; CM 1981, 315-24 |
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132 North Ni Mine, Widgiemooltha, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia