Wairauite
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Formula:
CoFe
Colour:
Steel-gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
8.32
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, Wairau Valley, South Island, New Zealand.
Type Locality:
Classification of Wairauite
Approved
Approval year:
1964
First published:
1964
1/A.07-30
1.AE.15
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
E : Iron-chromium family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
E : Iron-chromium family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.1.18.1
1.1.11.6
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1.60
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
Physical Properties of Wairauite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel-gray
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=255 - Vickers
Density:
8.32 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemical Properties of Wairauite
Crystallography of Wairauite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Cell Parameters:
a = 2.85 Å
Unit Cell V:
23.15 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005254 | Wairauite | Bayliss P (1990) Revised unit cell dimensions, space group, and chemical formula of some metallic minerals The Canadian Mineralogist 28 751-755 | ![]() | 1990 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Type Occurrence of Wairauite
General Appearance of Type Material:
very small grains distributed throughout serpentinite, typically < 2 microns diameter
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geological Survey of New Zealand, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, P25574; Cambridge University, Cambridge, England; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137192.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Serpentinite near a large ultramafic intrusion
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Challis, G.A., Long, J.V.P. (1964) Wairauite, a new cobalt-iron mineral. Mineralogical Magazine: 33: 942-948.
Synonyms of Wairauite
Other Language Names for Wairauite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
1.AE. | Vanadium | V | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
1.AE.05 | Molybdenum | Mo | Iso. |
1.AE.05 | Chromium | Cr | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
1.AE.05 | Iron | Fe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
1.AE.05 | Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. |
1.AE.05 | Tungsten | W | Iso. |
1.AE.05 | UM2001-06-E:CrFeNi | Fe7Cr2Ni | |
1.AE.10 | Taenite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.AE.10 | Tetrataenite | FeNi | Tet. |
1.AE.10 | Antitaenite | Fe3Ni | |
1.AE.15 | Chromferide | Fe3Cr1-x (x=0.6) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m |
1.AE.15 | Ferchromide | Cr3Fe1-x | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m |
1.AE.20 | Awaruite | Ni3Fe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.AE.25 | Jedwabite | Fe7(Ta,Nb)3 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
1.AE.30 | Manganese | Mn | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
1.1.11.1 | Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. |
1.1.11.2 | Taenite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.1.11.3 | Tetrataenite | FeNi | Tet. |
1.1.11.4 | Awaruite | Ni3Fe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.1.11.5 | Nickel | Ni | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
1.1 | Copper | Cu | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.2 | Silver | Ag | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.5 | Gold | Au | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.6 | Auricupride | Cu3Au | Orth. |
1.7 | Tetra-auricupride | AuCu | Tet. |
1.8 | Zinc | Zn | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.9 | Cadmium | Cd | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.10 | Danbaite | CuZn2 | Iso. |
1.11 | Zhanghengite | CuZn | Iso. |
1.12 | Mercury | Hg | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
1.13 | Kolymite | Cu7Hg6 | Iso. |
1.14 | Moschellandsbergite | Ag2Hg3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
1.15 | Eugenite | Ag11Hg2 | Iso. |
1.16 | Schachnerite | Ag1.1Hg0.9 | Hex. |
1.17 | Paraschachnerite | Ag3Hg2 | Orth. |
1.18 | Luanheite | Ag3Hg | Hex. |
1.19 | Weishanite | (Au,Ag,Hg) | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.20 | Indium | In | Tet. |
1.21 | Aluminium | Al | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.22 | Khatyrkite | (Cu,Zn)Al2 | Tet. |
1.23 | Cupalite | (Cu,Zn)Al | Orth. |
1.24 | Diamond | C | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
1.25 | Graphite | C | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
1.26 | Chaoite | C | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm |
1.27 | Lonsdaleite | C | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.28 | Silicon | Si | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
1.29 | Tin | Sn | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
1.30 | Lead | Pb | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.31 | Anyuiite | AuPb2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mcm |
1.31 | Novodneprite | AuPb3 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
1.32 | Leadamalgam | Pb0.7Hg0.3 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
1.33 | Arsenic | As | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
1.34 | Arsenolamprite | As | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
1.35 | Paxite | CuAs2 | Mon. |
1.36 | Koutekite | Cu5As2 | Hex. |
1.37 | Domeykite | Cu3As | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d |
1.38 | Algodonite | (Cu1-xAsx) | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.39 | Novákite | Cu20AgAs10 | Mon. |
1.40 | Kutinaite | Ag6Cu14As7 | Iso. |
1.41 | Antimony | Sb | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
1.42 | Stibarsen | AsSb | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
1.43 | Paradocrasite | Sb3As | Mon. 2 : B2 |
1.44 | Horsfordite | Cu, Sb | |
1.45 | Cuprostibite | Cu2(Sb,Tl) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
1.46 | Allargentum | (Ag1-xSbx) | Hex. |
1.47 | Aurostibite | AuSb2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
1.48 | Dyscrasite | Ag3Sb | Orth. mm2 : Pmm2 |
1.49 | Bismuth | Bi | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
1.50 | Maldonite | Au2Bi | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
1.51 | Sulphur | S8 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd |
1.52 | Rosickýite | S | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
1.53 | Selenium | Se | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
1.54 | Tellurium | Te | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
1.55 | Chromium | Cr | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
1.56 | Rhenium | Re | Hex. |
1.57 | Iron | Fe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
1.58 | Chromferide | Fe3Cr1-x (x=0.6) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m |
1.59 | Ferchromide | Cr3Fe1-x | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m |
1.61 | Nickel | Ni | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.62 | Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. |
1.63 | Taenite | (Fe,Ni) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.64 | Tetrataenite | FeNi | Tet. |
1.65 | Awaruite | Ni3Fe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.66 | Palladium | (Pd,Pt) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.67 | Potarite | PdHg | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm |
1.68 | Paolovite | Pd2Sn | Orth. |
1.69 | Stannopalladinite | (Pd,Cu)3Sn2 | Hex. |
1.70 | Cabriite | Pd2CuSn | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm |
1.71 | Taimyrite | (Pd,Cu,Pt)3Sn | Orth. |
1.72 | Atokite | (Pd,Pt)3Sn | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.73 | Rustenburgite | (Pt,Pd)3Sn | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.74 | Zvyagintsevite | Pd3Pb | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3n |
1.75 | Plumbopalladinite | Pd3Pb2 | Hex. |
1.76 | Osmium | (Os,Ir,Ru) | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
1.77 | Iridium | (Ir,Os,Ru) | Iso. |
1.82 | Platinum | Pt | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
1.83 | Hongshiite | PtCu | Trig. |
1.84 | Niggliite | PtSn | Hex. |
1.85 | Isoferroplatinum | Pt3Fe | Iso. |
1.86 | Tetraferroplatinum | PtFe | Tet. |
1.87 | Tulameenite | Pt2CuFe | Tet. |
1.88 | Ferronickelplatinum | Pt2FeNi | Tet. |
1.89 | Rhodium | (Rh,Pt) | Iso. |
Other Information
Notes:
Highly magnetic
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 Wairauite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Challis, G.A., Long, J.V.P. (1964) Wairauite, a new cobalt-iron mineral. Mineralogical Magazine: 33: 942-948.
Fleischer, M. (1965) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 50: 519-522.
Lorand, J.-P., Pinet, M. (1983) Sur la présence de fer natif et de wairauite (FeCo) dans les périodites serpentinisées du massif ultramafique de Ronda (Cordillère Bétique; Espagne du Sud) (On the occurrence of native iron and wairauite in serpentinized peridotites from the Ronda ultramafic body (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain)). Comptes-rendus des séances de l'Académie des sciences, Série 2: 297(6): 501-504.
Bayliss, P. (1990) Revised unit cell dimensions, space group, and chemical formula of some metallic minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist: 28: 751-755.
Jambor, J.L., Burke, E.A.J. (1991) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 76: 2020-2026.
Hua, X., Eisenhour, D.D., Buseck, P.R. (1995) Cobalt‐rich, nickel‐poor metal (wairauite) in the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite. Meteoritics: 30(1): 106-109.
Ukegawa, C., Minakawa, T. (2004) Awaruite, wairauite and Ni-sulphides in serpentinite from Sikoku. Abstracts for the Meeting (2004) of the Mineralogical Society of Japan.
Hazen, R.M., Hystad, G., Golden, J.J., Hummer, D.R., Liu, C., Downs, R.T., Morrison, S.M., Ralph, J., Grew, E.S. (2017) Cobalt mineral ecology. American Mineralogist: 102: 108-116.
Internet Links for Wairauite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4231.html
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Localities for Wairauite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Marchesi, C., Garrido, C. J., Harvey, J., González-Jiménez, J. M., Hidas, K., Lorand, J. P., & Gervilla, F. (2013). Platinum-group elements, S, Se and Cu in highly depleted abyssal peridotites from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge (ODP Hole 1274A): Influence of hydrothermal and magmatic processes. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 166(5), 1521-1538. |
Canada | |
| www.em.gov.bc.ca/cf/minfile/search/search.cfm?minfilno=092HSW136 |
| Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Chamberlain, J. A., McLeod, C. R., Traill, R. J., & Lachance, G. R. (1965). Native metals in the Muskox intrusion. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2(3), 188-215. |
China | |
| Xin, H., Eisenhour, D.D., and Buseck, P.R. (1995): Meteoritics 30(1), 106-109. |
India | |
| Brearley, A.J. & Jones, R.H. (1998) Chondritic Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials, Chapter 3; Papike, J.J.-Ed.: Mineralogical Society of America: Washington, DC, USA. 398 pages. |
Italy | |
| Prete, R. (1995): L'amiantifera di S. Vittore, Balangero, Torino. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1995, 313-333. |
Japan | |
| Ukegawa & Minakawa (2004) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 138. |
Kazakhstan | |
| Krot, A. N., Brearley, A. J., Biryukov, V. V., Ulyanov, A. A., Keil, K., Swindle, T. D. & Mittlefehldt, D. W. (1997). Dark inclusions in the reduced CV3 chondrite Efremovka - Evidence for various degrees of aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism. Lunar and Planetary Science XXVIII, pdf#1346, 769-770. (March 1997) |
New Zealand (TL) | |
| Challis, G.A., Long, J.V.P. (1964) Wairauite-a new cobalt-iron mineral. Mineralogical Magazine 33, 942-948. |
Russia | |
| F. Zaccarini et al. , The Canadian Mineralogist, Vol. 42, pp. 545-562 (2004). |
| Kozlov, A. P., Chanturiya, V. A., Sidorov, E. G., Tolstykh, N. D., & Telegin, Y. M. (2011). Large-volume platinum ore deposits in zonal mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Ural-Alaskan type and the outlook for their development. Geology of ore deposits, 53(5), 374. |
| Ryabov, V. V., & Lapkovsky, A. A. (2010, October). Unique polymineral association of Co-Ni and noble metal phases in gabbro-dolerite of the Dzhaltul trap intrusion (Siberian Platform). In Doklady Earth Sciences (Vol. 434, No. 2, pp. 1325-1329). MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica. |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data |
Serbia | |
| Brearley, A.J. & Jones, R.H. (1998) Chondritic Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials, Chapter 3; Papike, J.J.-Ed.: Mineralogical Society of America: Washington, DC, USA. 398 pages. |
Spain | |
| Lorand, J.-P., Pinet, M. (1983) Sur la présence de fer natif et de wairauite (FeCo) dans les périodites serpentinisées du massif ultramafique de Ronda (Cordillère Bétique; Espagne du Sud) (On the occurrence of native iron and wairauite in serpentinized peridotites from the Ronda ultramafic body (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain)). Comptes-rendus des séances de l'Académie des sciences, Série 2: 297(6): 501-504. |
UK | |
| Brearley, A.J. & Jones, R.H. (1998) Chondritic Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials, Chapter 3; Papike, J.J.-Ed.: Mineralogical Society of America: Washington, DC, USA. 398 pages. |
USA | |
| www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/Bird.html; (inclusions in "josephinite" nuggets) Dick, H.J.B. (1974) Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 24, 291-298. |
Red Hills, Wairau Valley, Marlborough Region, New Zealand