Jump to content

Nissonite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nissonite
Nissonite from Iron Monarch open cut, Iron Knob, Middleback Range, Eyre peninsula, South Australia, Australia
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2·5H2O
IMA symbolNss[1]
Strunz classification8.DC.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/c

Nissonite is a very rare copper phosphate mineral with formula: Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2·5H2O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system typically as crusts, tabular crystals, and diamond-shaped crystals. The color is blue-green. It has a light green streak, a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 2.73. Cleavage is {100} distinct.

Nissonite was discovered in 1966 and was named after William H. Nisson (1912–1965). It is from Llanada copper mine, near Llanada, San Benito Co., California.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.