A crust of greenish nickelblödite on gossan; obtained from dealer at the Minerant (mineral show of the MKA) 2016. Inquiry about the method of identification is currently being made. Collection and photo Erik Vercammen. From Km-3 Mine, Lavrion, Lavrion District Mines, Lavrion District, Attikí Prefecture, Greece — Photo: Erik Vercammen · CC BY 3.0
Nickelblödite
A rare sodium-nickel sulfate from Western Australian nickel mines — the nickel member of the blödite group.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Nickelblödite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Ni(SO₄)₂·4H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/a). It is a member of the Blödite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 2.43; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Nblö, IMA status: approved, named in 1976.
By evaporation of fluids containing Na, Ni, and SO4.
It is found associated with Violarite, pyrite, siderite, halite (Kambalda, Western Australia); morenosite (Carr Boyd Rocks mine, Western Australia).
The name refers to its relation to blödite, with Ni > Mg.