A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Nickeline (niccolite) |
|---|---|
| Description | This specimen contains “splotches” of nickeline. Nickeline, sometimes called niccolite, is a nickel arsenide mineral having formula NiAs. An important nickel ore mineral, it is generally metallic with a copper red to pinkish color. Its first name was the German term “kupfernickel” which means “copper nickel.” It sounds like some sort of alloy, but it was actually a term of derision because nickel meant “nixes” or underground goblins. The miners in Germany who first saw the copper-red metallic mineral were convinced the mineral was a rich ore of copper. Unfortunately, they found the mineral contained no copper. However, it did contain another useful metal and it is call nickel (Ni) today. The sample shown is about 9 cm across. |
| Location | Germany ▹ Hesse. Near Ziecheldsorf. |
| Photographer | Darla Sondrol. 2001-07-10. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #158. |
| Key words | niccolite, Germany, nickeline |
| Tech details | 829 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 1099 |
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