Metallic inclusions of the extremely rare platinum stannide niggliite in a platinum nugget from Alaska (Fox Gulch, Goodnews Bay, Bethel Borough, Alaska, United States of America). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Niggliite
Niggliite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula PtSn.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3mc). It is a member of the Nickeline structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 13.4; Metallic. Bireflectance: Strong, from pinkish cream to pale cobalt-blue. Anisotropism: Very high luster.
IMA symbol Nig, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1936.
Found in late-forming hydrothermal veins.
It is found associated with Pentlandite, chalcopyrite, bornite, parkerite, insizwaite, cubanite, pyrrhotite (Insizwa deposit, South Africa); stannopalladinite, hessite.
In honor of Professor Paul Niggli (1888–1953), Swiss mineralogist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.