Home > Metallic Minerals – September 17 > MS1436 Nickeline

Nickeline - Sold


Nickeline is a simple compound of nickel and arsenic. Its name reflects its nickel content. The mineral appears in seventeenth century as Kupfernickel or copper nickel, in allusion to its metallic red color and nickel content. Beudant (1832) assigned the mineral its modern name in his Traité Élémentaire de Minéralogie. Nickeline is a rather widespread ore mineral, although crystals are quite rare.

This specimen consists of spheroidal masses of nickeline, mostly revealed through overlying calcite. Nickeline shows its hexagonal form as crystal terminations to 3 mm across peaking out of the spheroidal masses. Carries a Hugh Ford (1885-1966) dealer label.