HEAZLEWOODITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfides
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : Ni3S2
    Rarity : Rare


Heazlewoodite is a rare nickel sulfide. It is a mineral of hydrothermal origin that is found in serpentinites, associated in particular with pentlandite and millerite, it is also sometimes found in the nickel deposits of komatiites. It owes its name to its locality of discovery : Heazlewood (Tasmania, Australia). Heazlewoodite appears in fine-grained masses, very rarely as tiny crystals, of a pale brass yellow to pale bronze hue.

Main photo : Heazlewoodite on chromian grossular from Jeffrey Mine, Quebec, Canada © Donald Doell

Heazlewoodite in the World

Heazlewoodite is known in millimeter crystals in Dorleska and White Freek (California). It is present in small areas in the serpentinites of the Jeffrey mine (Canada) which still produced crystals up to 5 mm on grossular, of Kaapsehoop (South Africa) and in many other localities.

Right photo : Heazlewoodite de Jeffrey Mine, Quebec, Canada © R. Nakanishi

Heazlewoodite in France

In France, heazlewoodite is known in the serpentinites of Canari, Calvi and Corte (Upper Corsica) and especially in New Caledonia. It is also reported on several outcrops around Brioude (Haute-Loire), at Champagnat-le-Jeune, near Issoire (Puy-de-Dôme), as well as in the alluvium of Reyssouze (Ain) and the Durance (Bouches-du-Rhône).

Twinning

Twinning is possible but not specified.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.



Hardness : 4
Density : 5.82
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : Bronze


TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None


Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None