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Millerite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Richard Eddy
About Millerite
William H. Miller
Formula:
NiS
Colour:
Pale brass-yellow, with an iridescent tarnish, and greenish-grey.
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
5.3 - 5.5
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by Wilhelm Haidinger in 1845 in honor of William Hallowes Miller [April 6, 1801, Velindre, Wales, UK - May 20, 1880, Cambridge, England, UK], professor at the University of Cambridge, who first studied the crystals. He wrote 'A Treatise on Crystallography'. Miller indices are also named after him.
Dimorph of:
Commonly found as radiating and jackstraw clusters of shiny metallic acicular crystals, pale brass-yellow with an iridescent tarnish.
Compare 'UM1989-25-S:FeNi' - a representative of the Fe1-xS-Ni1-xS (Mss) solid solution; and also crowningshieldite.
Also compare UM2008-46-S:CuIrNiOs.
Compare 'UM1989-25-S:FeNi' - a representative of the Fe1-xS-Ni1-xS (Mss) solid solution; and also crowningshieldite.
Also compare UM2008-46-S:CuIrNiOs.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2711
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2711:9
Similar Names
| Mellorite | ||
| Milarite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| Muellerite | A synonym of Schertelite | |
| Müllerite | A valid IMA mineral species | Pb2Fe3+(Te6+O6)Cl |
| Zillerite (of Fersman) | A synonym of 'Hornblende-asbestos' |
IMA Classification of Millerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1845
Classification of Millerite
2.CC.20
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
Dana 7th ed.:
2.8.16.1
2.8.16.1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.11.3
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mlr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Mlr | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Mlr | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Millerite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Millerite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Pale brass-yellow, with an iridescent tarnish, and greenish-grey.
Streak:
Greenish black
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=179 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {1011} and {0112}.
Perfect on {1011} and {0112}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
5.3 - 5.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.374 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Millerite
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 26.4% | 30.0% |
| 420nm | 29.8% | 34.0% |
| 440nm | 35.6% | 38.8% |
| 460nm | 41.0% | 42.1% |
| 480nm | 45.1% | 44.8% |
| 500nm | 48.4% | 46.9% |
| 520nm | 51.5% | 48.4% |
| 540nm | 53.9% | 49.8% |
| 560nm | 55.5% | 50.8% |
| 580nm | 57.0% | 51.8% |
| 600nm | 58.3% | 51.6% |
| 620nm | 59.2% | 53.3% |
| 640nm | 59.9% | 53.8% |
| 660nm | 60.4% | 54.2% |
| 680nm | 60.5% | 54.4% |
| 700nm | 60.5% | 54.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 60.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Weak in air stronger in oil
Pale yellow-brown to bright yellow
Pale yellow-brown to bright yellow
Chemistry of Millerite
Mindat Formula:
NiS
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Co,Cu
Crystallography of Millerite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.607 Å, c = 3.143 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.327
Unit Cell V:
251.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
9
Morphology:
Acicular crystals in radiating or jackstraw clusters; also massive.
Twinning:
None reported.
Crystallographic forms of Millerite
Crystal Atlas:
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Millerite - prismatic {100}
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0017358 | Millerite | Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1010435 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73 | 1925 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005098 | Millerite | Rajamani V, Prewitt C T (1974) The crystal structure of millerite The Canadian Mineralogist 12 253-257 |  | 1974 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005097 | Millerite | Grice J D, Ferguson R B (1974) Crystal structure refinement of millerite (B-NiS) The Canadian Mineralogist 12 248-252 | | 1974 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017942 | Millerite | Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1011038 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73 | 1925 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.81 Å | (60) |
| 2.95 Å | (40) |
| 2.78 Å | (100) |
| 2.51 Å | (70) |
| 2.23 Å | (60) |
| 1.86 Å | (90) |
| 1.82 Å | (50) |
| 1.74 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 11 : Volcanic fumarole minerals; reduced phases (see also #45) | |
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33) | |
| 13 : Hadean serpentinization | |
| 15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
| 37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 38 : Ophiolites | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Geological Setting:
A low-temperature mineral which occurs in sulfidic limestones and dolostones, and as a late-forming mineral in nickel sulfide deposits.
Type Occurrence of Millerite
Synonyms of Millerite
Other Language Names for Millerite
Basque:Millerita
Dutch:Milleriet
Finnish:Milleriitti
Italian:Millerite
Polish:Milleryt
Russian:Миллерит
Spanish:Millerita
Trichopyrita
Trichopyrita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 266 photos of Millerite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 255 photos of Millerite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 218 photos of Millerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 142 photos of Millerite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 127 photos of Millerite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 98 photos of Millerite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 92 photos of Millerite associated with Polydymite | Ni2+Ni3+2S4 |
| 75 photos of Millerite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 73 photos of Millerite associated with Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| 72 photos of Millerite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CC. | Eliopoulosite | V7S8 |
| 2.CC. | Tilkerodeite | Pd2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC. | 'UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh' | (Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)9S11 |
| 2.CC. | Proxitwelvefoldite | Pd3Ni4Te8 |
| 2.CC. | Ferrotorryweiserite | Rh5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Tamuraite | Ir5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Crowningshieldite | (Ni0.9Fe0.1)S |
| 2.CC. | Kuvaevite | Ir5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Torryweiserite | Rh5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC.05 | Achávalite | FeSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Langisite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Sederholmite | NiSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Freboldite | CoSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Nickeline | NiAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Sobolevskite | PdBi |
| 2.CC.05 | Jaipurite | CoS |
| 2.CC.05 | Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) |
| 2.CC.05 | Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 |
| 2.CC.05 | Stumpflite | PtSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Sudburyite | PdSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Breithauptite | NiSb |
| 2.CC.10 | Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 2.CC.10 | Smythite | (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3) |
| 2.CC.10 | Troilite | FeS |
| 2.CC.15 | Ruthenarsenite | (Ru,Ni)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Westerveldite | (Fe,Ni,Co)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Modderite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.15 | Minakawaite | RhSb |
| 2.CC.15 | Cherepanovite | RhAs |
| 2.CC.20 | 'UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh' | (Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S |
| 2.CC.20 | Mäkinenite | NiSe |
| 2.CC.25 | Mackinawite | FeS |
| 2.CC.30 | Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 |
| 2.CC.30 | 'Hexatestibiopanickelite' | (Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ? |
| 2.CC.35b | Cooperite | PtS |
| 2.CC.35a | Vysotskite | PdS |
| 2.CC.35a | Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| 2.CC.45 | Jacutingaite | Pt2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC.50 | 'Imgreite' | NiTe (?) |
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 Millerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2711.html
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References for Millerite
Reference List:
Lohest, M. (1902) Présentation de millérite. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique, 29, B142.
Heyl, A. V., Milton, C., Axelrod, J. M. (1959) Nickel minerals from near Linden, Iowa Co., Wisconsin. American Mineralogist, 44 (9-10) 995-1009
KULLERUD, G., YUND, R. A. (1962) The Ni-S System and Related Minerals. Journal of Petrology, 3 (1) 126-175 doi:10.1093/petrology/3.1.126
Grønvold, Fredrik, Stølen, Svein (1995) Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of millerite from 298.15 to 660 K and NiAs-type nickel(II) sulfide from 260 to 1000 K. thermodynamics of the NiAs-type to millerite transition. Thermochimica Acta, 266. 213-229 doi:10.1016/0040-6031(95)02447-6
Nesbitt, H.W., Schaufuss, A.G., Scaini, M., Bancroft, G.M., Szargan, R. (2001) XPS measurement of fivefold and sixfold coordinated sulfur in pyrrhotites and evidence for millerite and pyrrhotite surface species. American Mineralogist, 86 (3) 318-326 doi:10.2138/am-2001-2-315
Ondruš, P., Veselovský, F., Gabašová, A., Hloušek, J., Šrein, V., Vavřín, I., Skála, R., Sejkora, J., Drábek, M. (2003) Primary minerals of the Jáchymov ore district. Journal of the Czech Geological Society, 48 (3-4) 19-147
Meikle Mine, Bootstrap Mining District, Elko County, Nevada, USA