Melonite
NiTe2IMA symbol: Mltgrandfathered
Melonite is a sulfide or sulfosalt mineral with the formula NiTe2, crystallizing in the trigonal system. It has a Mohs hardness of 1.6-2, typically white, brown or red in color, with a metallic luster, a specific gravity of 7.9-8.3. Its streak is gray.
Photos
Crystallography
| Crystal system | trigonal crystal systemWikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Space group | P -3 m 1 |
| Cell (Å, °) | a = 3.861, b = 3.861, c = 5.297; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 120 |
| Cell volume | 68.385 ų, Z = 1 |
| Axial ratios | 1.0000:1:1.3719calculated from COD 9009113 |
| Source structure | COD 9009113 (Crystal Structures, 1963) — 1 of 2 structures |
Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)
| d (Å) | 2.828 | 1.931 | 2.076 | 1.594 | 1.561 | 1.229 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I/I₀ | 100 | 31.8 | 29.1 | 17.5 | 16.3 | 14.5 |
xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9009113; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.
Physical properties
| Density (calculated) | 7.622 g/cm³calculated from COD 9009113 |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 1.6-2single sourceFord, Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 3rd ed. (1922) |
| Specific gravity | 7.9-8.3 g/cm3single sourceFord, Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 3rd ed. (1922) |
| Color | brown, red, whitesingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Streak | graysingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Luster | metallicsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
Chemistry (calculated)
| Molecular weight | 313.89 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula |
|---|---|
| Composition (wt%) | Ni 18.7%, Te 81.3% |
Classification
| Nickel-Strunz (10th) | 2.EA.20Wikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Nickel-Strunz (9th) | 2.EA.20Wikidata (CC0) |