Heazlewoodite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Sulfide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Ni3S2 |
IMA symbol | Hzl[1] |
Strunz classification | 2.BB.05 |
Crystal system | Trigonal |
Crystal class | Trapezohedral (32) H-M symbol: (32) |
Space group | R32 |
Identification | |
Color | Pale bronze |
Crystal habit | Disseminated granular to massive |
Twinning | Possibly the cause of mosaic structure seen in polished section |
Cleavage | None |
Mohs scale hardness | 4 |
Luster | Metallic |
Diaphaneity | Opaque |
Specific gravity | 5.82 |
Optical properties | Anisotropy – Strong, brown to bluish gray |
References | [2][3][4] |
Heazlewoodite, Ni3S2, is a rare sulfur-poor nickel sulfide mineral found in serpentinitized dunite. It occurs as disseminations and masses of opaque, metallic light bronze to brassy yellow grains which crystallize in the trigonal crystal system. It has a hardness of 4, a specific gravity of 5.82. Heazlewoodite was first described in 1896 from Heazlewood, Tasmania, Australia.[4]