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Ullmannite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Ullmannite
Formula:
NiSbS
Colour:
Tin-white, steel grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
6.65
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Named after Johann Christoph Ullmann (3 September 1771, Kassel - 6 August 1821, Marburg), German mineralogist and chemist. He studied at the Freiberg Mining Academy in Saxony in 1790 and received his doctorate in Marburg in 1792. From 1793 to 1797 he was an associate professor of philosophy and finance at the University of Marburg and finally became a full professor of political science and mining and metallurgy as well as a member of the State Economics Institute.
He was the first professor of this subject in Marburg who was trained in the Freiberg Mining Academy under Abraham Gottlob Werner.
From 1795, Johann Christoph Ullmann took over the care of the “Hessian Mineral Cabinet” at the Princely Hessian University of Marburg (today the Mineralogical Museum of the Philipps University of Marburg), which was set up in 1790 by Johann Gottlieb Waldin (1728–1795). He died as Oberbergrat in Marburg.
He was the first professor of this subject in Marburg who was trained in the Freiberg Mining Academy under Abraham Gottlob Werner.
From 1795, Johann Christoph Ullmann took over the care of the “Hessian Mineral Cabinet” at the Princely Hessian University of Marburg (today the Mineralogical Museum of the Philipps University of Marburg), which was set up in 1790 by Johann Gottlieb Waldin (1728–1795). He died as Oberbergrat in Marburg.
Ullmannite-Willyamite Series.
Gersdorffite-Ullmannite Series.
The S analogue of kvačekite. The Sb analogue of guixiangite.
Gersdorffite-Ullmannite Series.
The S analogue of kvačekite. The Sb analogue of guixiangite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4086
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4086:6
Similar Names
| Ilmenite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Ilmenite (of Brooke) | A synonym of 'Columbite' |
IMA Classification of Ullmannite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ni3+(SbS)3-
Classification of Ullmannite
2.EB.25
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
2.12.3.3
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
3.11.38
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.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ull | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Ullmannite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white, steel grey
Streak:
Black, grayish black
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=592 - 627 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}
Perfect on {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.65 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.793 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ullmannite
Type:
Isotropic
Anisotropism:
Occasionally weakly anisotropic
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 400nm | 52.0% |
| 420nm | 51.0% |
| 440nm | 50.0% |
| 460nm | 49.0% |
| 480nm | 48.2% |
| 500nm | 47.4% |
| 520nm | 46.7% |
| 540nm | 46.1% |
| 560nm | 45.7% |
| 580nm | 45.5% |
| 600nm | 45.5% |
| 620nm | 45.6% |
| 640nm | 46.0% |
| 660nm | 46.4% |
| 680nm | 47.0% |
| 700nm | 47.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 52.0%.
Colour in reflected light:
White
Chemistry of Ullmannite
Mindat Formula:
NiSbS
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Co,As,Bi
Crystallography of Ullmannite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
23 - Tetartoidal
Space Group:
P213
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.91(2) Å
Unit Cell V:
206.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Cubes
Comment:
Arsenian ullmannite has space group P1.
Crystallographic forms of Ullmannite
Crystal Atlas:
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014009 | Ullmannite | Foecker A J, Jeitschko W (2001) The atomic order of the pnictogen and chalcogen atoms in equiatomic ternary Journal of Solid State Chemistry 162 69-78 | 2001 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000774 | Ullmannite | Pratt J L, Bayliss P (1980) Crystal structure refinement of a cobaltian ullmannite American Mineralogist 65 154-156 | ![]() | 1980 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000577 | Ullmannite | Bayliss P (1977) Crystal structure refinement of arsenian ullmannite American Mineralogist 62 369-373 | ![]() | 1977 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000576 | Ullmannite | Bayliss P (1977) Crystal structure refinement of arsenian ullmannite approximate cubic structure American Mineralogist 62 369-373 | ![]() | 1977 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018100 | Ullmannite | Peacock M, Berry L (1940) Roentgenographic observations on ore minerals _cod_database_code 1011234 University of Toronto Studies, Geological Series 44 47-69 | 1940 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.64 Å | (100) |
| 1.774 Å | (70) |
| 2.40 Å | (60) |
| 1.573 Å | (50) |
| 1.092 Å | (50) |
| 0.810 Å | (50) |
| 0.802 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Ullmannite
Synonyms of Ullmannite
Other Language Names for Ullmannite
Relationship of Ullmannite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Cobaltite Group:
| Andrieslombaardite | RhSbS | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Changchengite | IrBiS | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Cobaltite | CoAsS | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
| Gersdorffite | NiAsS | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Guixiangite | NiBiS | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Hollingworthite | (Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Jolliffeite | NiAsSe | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Kalungaite | PdAsSe | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Maslovite | PtBiTe | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Mayingite | IrBiTe | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Michenerite | PdBiTe | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Milotaite | PdSbSe | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Padmaite | PdBiSe | Iso. 432 |
| 'Platarsite' | Pt(As,S)2 | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3 |
| Sulfopadmaite | PdBiS | Iso. 23 : P213 |
| Testibiopalladite | PdSbTe | Iso. |
| Tolovkite | IrSbS | Iso. |
| 'UM1991-19-Se:AsCo' | (Co,Ni)AsSe | Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pm3 |
| Willyamite | CoSbS |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 42 photos of Ullmannite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 35 photos of Ullmannite associated with Breithauptite | NiSb |
| 23 photos of Ullmannite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 20 photos of Ullmannite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 20 photos of Ullmannite associated with Bottinoite | Ni2+Sb5+2(OH)12 · 6H2O |
| 19 photos of Ullmannite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 18 photos of Ullmannite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 14 photos of Ullmannite associated with Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| 7 photos of Ullmannite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 7 photos of Ullmannite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.EB. | Selenolaurite | RuSe2 |
| 2.EB. | Andrieslombaardite | RhSbS |
| 2.EB. | Iridarsenite | (Ir,Ru)As2 |
| 2.EB. | Kanatzidisite | (SbBiS3)2Te2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Vaesite | NiS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Hauerite | MnS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Laurite | RuS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Gaotaiite | Ir3Te8 |
| 2.EB.05a | Penroseite | (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Fukuchilite | Cu3FeS8 |
| 2.EB.05a | Villamanínite | (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Erlichmanite | OsS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Sperrylite | PtAs2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Geversite | PtSb2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Cattierite | CoS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Aurostibite | AuSb2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Trogtalite | CoSe2 |
| 2.EB.05a v | 'Cayeuxite' | |
| 2.EB.05a | Kruťaite | CuSe2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Insizwaite | PtBi2 |
| 2.EB.05b | Bambollaite | Cu(Se,Te)2 |
| 2.EB.05a | Dzharkenite | FeSe2 |
| 2.EB.10a | Marcasite | FeS2 |
| 2.EB.10e | Paracostibite | CoSbS |
| 2.EB.10f | Oenite | CoSbAs |
| 2.EB.10e | Pararammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
| 2.EB.10a | Mattagamite | CoTe2 |
| 2.EB.10a | Frohbergite | FeTe2 |
| 2.EB.10d | Costibite | CoSbS |
| 2.EB.10b | Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
| 2.EB.10c | Glaucodot | (Co0.50Fe0.50)AsS |
| 2.EB.10a | Petříčekite | CuSe2 |
| 2.EB.10a | Kullerudite | NiSe2 |
| 2.EB.10a | Ferroselite | FeSe2 |
| 2.EB.15b | Seinäjokite | FeSb2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Rammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Clinosafflorite | CoAs2 |
| 2.EB.15c | Paxite | CuAs2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Nisbite | NiSb2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Löllingite | FeAs2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Safflorite | (Co,Ni,Fe)As2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Omeiite | OsAs2 |
| 2.EB.15a | Anduoite | RuAs2 |
| 2.EB.20 | Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 2.EB.20 | Ruarsite | (Ru,Os)AsS |
| 2.EB.20 | Osarsite | (Os,Ru)AsS |
| 2.EB.20 | Gudmundite | FeSbS |
| 2.EB.25 | Mayingite | IrBiTe |
| 2.EB.25 | Maslovite | PtBiTe |
| 2.EB.25 | Paragersdorffite | Ni(As,S)2 |
| 2.EB.25 | Orthogersdorffite | NiAsS |
| 2.EB.25 | Sulfopadmaite | PdBiS |
| 2.EB.25 | Jolliffeite | NiAsSe |
| 2.EB.25 | Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| 2.EB.25 | Guixiangite | NiBiS |
| 2.EB.25 | Testibiopalladite | PdSbTe |
| 2.EB.25 va | 'Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite' | Ni(As,Sb)S |
| 2.EB.25 | Kalungaite | PdAsSe |
| 2.EB.25 | Hollingworthite | (Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS |
| 2.EB.25 | Michenerite | PdBiTe |
| 2.EB.25 | Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| 2.EB.25 | Milotaite | PdSbSe |
| 2.EB.25 | Tolovkite | IrSbS |
| 2.EB.25 | 'Platarsite' | Pt(As,S)2 |
| 2.EB.25 | Willyamite | CoSbS |
| 2.EB.25 | Changchengite | IrBiS |
| 2.EB.25 | Kvačekite | NiSbSe |
| 2.EB.25 | Krutovite | NiAs2 |
| 2.EB.25 | Padmaite | PdBiSe |
| 2.EB.25 | Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| 2.EB.30 | Urvantsevite | Pd(Bi,Pb)2 |
| 2.EB.35 | Rheniite | ReS2 |
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 Ullmannite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4086.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Ullmannite
Reference List:
Russell, Arthur (1927) Notice of an occurrence of niccolite and ullmannite at the Settlingstones Mine, Fourstones, Northumberland; and of serpierite at Ross Island Mine, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 21 (119) 383-387 doi:10.1180/minmag.1927.021.119.03
Bayliss, Peter (1969) Isomorphous substitution in synthetic cobaltite and ullmannite. American Mineralogist, 54 (3-4) 426-430
Bayliss, Peter (1977) Crystal structure refinement of arsenian ullmannite. American Mineralogist, 62 (3-4) 369-373
Pratt, J. Lynn, Bayliss, Peter (1980) Crystal structure refinement of a cobaltian ullmannite. American Mineralogist, 65 (1-2) 154-156
Bayliss, P. (1986) Subdivision of the pyrite group and a chemical and x-ray-diffraction investigation of ullmannite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 24 (1) 27-33
Localities for Ullmannite
Showing 431 localities.
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Zappettini et al. (2014) |
| Paar et al. (2016) | |
| Paar et al. (2016) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Paz et al. (2016) |
Australia | |
| Ramdohr (1950) |
| Lawrence et al. (1999) +1 other reference | |
| Ramdohr (1950) | |
| Ramdohr (1950) | |
| Fleming +2 other references |
| Sielecki (1988) |
| Nenke (1972) +1 other reference |
| SA Geodata Database - Mineral Deposit ... +1 other reference |
| SA Geodata Database - Mineral Deposit ... |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) |
| Zaw et al. (1997) |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) | |
| Ferguson (1999) |
| Ferguson (1999) | |
| Kalleske (2010) |
| Collins et al. (2004) |
| Mock (1987) |
| Dana et al. (2025) +1 other reference |
| Caruso et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| CJR Migisha +3 other references |
Austria | |
| H.Meixner (1974) |
| Meixner (1957) | |
| Auer (2026) |
| Mali (1996) |
| Mali (1996) | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Meixner (1957) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
| Strasser (1989) |
| C.Auer (2025) |
| Feitzinger et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Auer (2026) +1 other reference |
| Kolitsch et al. (2021) |
| Auer (2020) |
| Kolitsch (2020) | |
| Schachinger et al. (2013) |
| Postl et al. (1997) |
| Raith et al. (2000) +1 other reference |
| Auer (2025) | |
| Bojar et al. (2002) |
| Schachinger et al. (2017) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
| matrixx 3 |
| Reiter et al. (2005) |
| Bojar (1997) +2 other references | |
| Kolitsch (2017) |
| GeoSphere Austria (2026) |
| Mali (1996) |
| www.mineralienatlas.de (n.d.) |
| Exel (1993) |
Bolivia | |
| Royal Ontario Museum specimen | |
| Royal Ontario Museum specimen |
| Wilson (2001) |
| Ahlfeld & Muñoz Reyes (1955) |
Brazil | |
| Vial et al. (2007) |
| Lobato et al. (2001) |
| Silva et al. (2022) | |
Bulgaria | |
| www.geologija-revija.si (n.d.) |
Burkina Faso | |
| Econ Geol (2003) |
Canada | |
| Jackson-Brown et al. (2014) |
| Hora et al. (2006) |
| Augsten et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Cabri et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Graham et al. (2026) |
| Coleman (1957) |
| Rocks & Minerals 79:2 pp94-99 |
| Marsden (2012) |
|





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Dörnberg Mine, Olsberg, Hochsauerlandkreis, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany