Nikischerite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page kindly sponsored by Tony Nikischer
About Nikischerite
Tony Nikischer
Formula:
Fe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Dark green, brownish
Lustre:
Greasy, Pearly, Dull
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.33
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
For American mineralogist and mineral dealer, Anthony J. Nikischer (b. 1949), who first analyzed the mineral.
The Fe analogue of shigaite and poellmannite.
May be confused with clinochlore and chamosite.
"Recent material from Huanuni labeled as nikischerite has be confirmed as a chlorite group mineral, not nikischerite. We were offered a number of Huanuni specimens from 2020-2021 and after analysis, returned them all." (Tony Nikischer, Mindat message https://www.mindat.org/mesg-603193.html, 2022).
May be confused with clinochlore and chamosite.
"Recent material from Huanuni labeled as nikischerite has be confirmed as a chlorite group mineral, not nikischerite. We were offered a number of Huanuni specimens from 2020-2021 and after analysis, returned them all." (Tony Nikischer, Mindat message https://www.mindat.org/mesg-603193.html, 2022).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
10934
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:10934:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
3e59e168-52a5-49b0-9edf-a0efe1ff7df5
IMA Classification of Nikischerite
Approved
Approval year:
2001
First published:
2003
Classification of Nikischerite
7.DD.35
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nik | 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 Nikischerite
Greasy, Pearly, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Dark green, brownish
Comment:
Green when fresh; oxidises to ochre brown.
Streak:
Pale grayish green
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Comment:
Crumbly
Density:
2.33(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.30 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nikischerite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
ε undetermined
Chemistry of Nikischerite
Mindat Formula:
Fe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O
Crystallography of Nikischerite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.347(1) Å, c = 33.000(7) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.531
Unit Cell V:
2497 ų
Z:
3
Morphology:
Platy habit with dominant {001}.
Twinning:
None observed
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005826 | Nikischerite | Huminicki D M C, Hawthorne F C (2003) The crystal structure of nikischerite, NaFeAl3(SO4)2(OH)18(H2O)12, a mineral of the shigaite group The Canadian Mineralogist 41 79-82 |  | 2003 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.980 Å | (100) |
| 5.539 Å | (60) |
| 3.674 Å | (50) |
| 2.425 Å | (30) |
| 1.932 Å | (30) |
| 2.624 Å | (25) |
| 4.311 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] |
Type Occurrence of Nikischerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small micaceous plates, to 4 mm, forming isolated raditing balls and aggregates reaching 1 cm across.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (CMNMC 83499).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Low temperature hydrothermal veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Huminicki, D.M.C., Hawthorne, F.C., Grice, J.D., Roberts, A.C., Jambor, J.L. (2003) Nikischerite, a new mineral from the Huanuni tin mine, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia. The Mineralogical Record, 34, 155–158.
Synonyms of Nikischerite
Other Language Names for Nikischerite
German:Nikischerit
Russian:Никишерит
Simplified Chinese:羟铝钠铁矾
Spanish:Nikischerita
Traditional Chinese:羥鋁鈉鐵礬
Relationship of Nikischerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Erssonite | Mg7Fe3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 12H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3c1 |
| Motukoreaite | Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Natroglaucocerinite | Zn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O | Hex. |
| Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Wermlandite | Mg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3c1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DD. | Asagiite | NiCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.05 | Felsőbányaite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.07 | Llantenesite | Cu6Al[SeO4](OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Posnjakite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Wroewolfeite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Gobelinite | CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Fehrite | MgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | Spangolite | Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline) | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.20 | Ktenasite | ZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.25 | Christelite | Cu2Zn3(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Serpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Niedermayrite | CdCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Edwardsite | Cu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Carrboydite | (Ni1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Glaucocerinite | (Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Honessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Hydrohonessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Motukoreaite | Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Mountkeithite | [(Mg1-xFe3+x)(OH)2][SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Wermlandite | Mg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Woodwardite | Cu1-xAlx(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Zincaluminite | Zn6Al6(SO4)2(OH)16 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Hydrowoodwardite | (Cu1-xAlx)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Zincowoodwardite | Zn1-xAlx(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Natroglaucocerinite | Zn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Isselite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Lawsonbauerite | (Mn2+,Mg)9Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Torreyite | (Mg,Mn2+)7◻2Mn2+2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.45 | Mooreite | Mg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.45 | Hodgesmithite | (Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.47 | Lahnsteinite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.50 | Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.50 | Minohlite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.52 | Lauraniite | Cu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.55 | Bechererite | Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)] |
| 7.DD.60 | Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.65 | Vonbezingite | Ca6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.70 | Redgillite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · H2O |
| 7.DD.75 | Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.75 | Nickelalumite | NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3 |
| 7.DD.75 | Kyrgyzstanite | ZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Thérèsemagnanite | NaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn | (Zn,Cu)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.85 | Montetrisaite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Nikischerite
Not fluorescent
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 Nikischerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-10934.html
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References for Nikischerite
Reference List:
Huminicki, D. M.C., Hawthorne, F. C. (2003) The crystal structure of nikischerite, NaFe2+6Al3(SO4)2 (OH)18(H2O)12, a mineral of the shigaite group. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41 (1) 79-82 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.41.1.79
Localities for Nikischerite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Bolivia (TL) | |
| Roberts et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
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Huanuni mine, Huanuni, Pantaleón Dalence Province, Oruro, Bolivia