Vaesite Field of view: 3 mm Locality: Modena Province, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Octahedral Crystal Vaesite on matrix; Photo and collection Fernando Brederodes. — Photo: Fernando Brederodes · Public domain
Vaesite
Nickel disulfide — the nickel partner of cattierite in the pyrite group, named for Belgian mineralogist Johannes Vaes.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Vaesite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula NiS₂.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Pa3). It is a member of the Pyrite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 4.45; Metallic to submetallic. R: (400) 34.2, (420) 33.6, (440) 33.2, (460) 32.8, (480) 32.4, (500) 32.2, (520) 32.0 luster.
IMA symbol Va, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1945.
Disseminated through dolostone (Kasompi mine, Congo); an alteration product of arsenic-deficient nickel-skutterudite (Germany).
It is found associated with Arsenic-deficient nickel-skutterudite, pyrite, polydymite, uraninite.
In honor of Johannes F. Vaes (1902–1978), mineralogist for the Union Minière du Haut Katanga.