Niningerite
IMA 1966-036
- MgS
- (Mg, Fe, Mn) S
Niningerit is a very rarely occurring mineral from the mineral class of " sulfides and sulfosalts ." It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system with the idealized composition MgS, magnesium sulfide is therefore seen chemically. However, naturally occurring Niningerit usually contains small amounts of iron and manganese is therefore in various sources, also has the formula (Mg, Fe, Mn) S and (Mg, Fe 2 , Mn) S to find. The items shown in the parentheses in the formula can each represent each other (substitution, Diadochie ), but are always in the same proportions to the other components of the mineral.
Niningerit is opaque and has so far been found only in the form of microcrystalline aggregates of gray, shiny metallic color in stone meteorites, the so-called enstatite chondrites.
Etymology and history
Was first discovered in Niningerit Indarch meteorite, one in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan fallen in enstatite chondrites.
The mineral was first described in 1967 by K. Keil and KG Snetsinger, designated to honor his contributions to the study of meteorites after the meteorite researcher Harvey Harlow Nininger ( 1887-1986 ).
Classification
In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Niningerit belonged to the department of " sulfides with the molar ratio of metal (M): sulfur ( S), selenium (Se ) and tellurium ( Te) ≈ 1: 1 "where he the unnamed group II/C.15 formed together with Alabandin, Altait, Clausthalite, Crerarit, galena, and Keilit oldhamite.
The 9th edition valid since 2001 and of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA ) used the Strunz'schen Mineral classification assigns the Niningerit in the department of " metal sulfides with the molar ratio of M: 1 ( and similar ): S = 1". However, this is further subdivided according to the conditions prevailing in the interconnect metals, so that the mineral according to its composition in the subdivision " with tin ( Sn ), lead ( Pb ), mercury (Hg ), etc. " is to find where it together with Alabandin, Altait, Clausthalite, galena, and Keilit oldhamite the " Galenitgruppe " with the system no. 2.CD.10 forms.
The mainly common in English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana assigns the Niningerit into the class of " sulfides and sulfosalts " and there in the department of " sulfide minerals ." Here he is " ( isometric: Fm3m ) Galena Group" together with galena, Clausthalite, Altait, Alabandin, oldhamite, Borovskit in the system no. 02:08:01 within the subdivision " sulfides - tellurides and selenides, including - with the composition AmBnXp, with (m n): p = 1: 1" to find.
Education and Locations
Niningerit forms in metamorphic enstatite chondrites, where it occurs usually associated with kamacite and troilite.
As a very rarely occurring mineral formation Niningerit is so far only in a few samples from some 10 localities known (as of 2013). Its type locality Indarch meteorite is currently the only location in Azerbaijan.
In addition, they found the mineral nor in the Martian meteorite ALH 84001 in Antarctica, in the " Qingzhen meteorite " in the Chinese province of Guizhou, Kaidun meteorite in Yemen, in the Abee meteorite in the Canadian province of Alberta, in the Kota - Kota meteorite in Malawi, the " Adhi -Kot meteorite " in Punjab (Pakistan ), in " St. - Mark ' s- meteorite " in the District of Chris Hani in South Africa, in Itqiy meteorite in the Western Sahara and in the " Shallowater meteorite " in Lubbock County of the U.S. state of Texas.
In meteorites from the Moon, or more precisely from the Hadley Rille, which brought the Apollo 15 mission to the Earth, also Niningerit was discovered.
Crystal structure
Niningerit crystallizes in cubic space group Fm3m ( Raumgruppen-Nr. 225 ) with the lattice parameters a = 5.17 Å and four formula units per unit cell.