NISSONITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated phosphates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 5H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Nissonite is an extremely rare hydrated phosphate of copper and magnesium which is found in the oxidation zone of copper and iron deposits. It associates with many secondary copper minerals (malachite, azurite, turquoise, chrysocolla, etc...). It was named in honor of the American mineralogy enthusiast William H. Nisson who made the first chemical determinations of this mineral. Nissonite displays a beautiful turquoise to deep blue color. It rarely occurs in diamond-shaped crystals and more commonly forms aggregates and fine encrustations.

Main photo : Nissonite from Iron Monarch, Australia © Vincent Bourgoin

Nissonite from Boss Mine, Goodsprings, Nevada, USA © Marko Burkhardt
Nissonite from Iron Monarch, Australia © Jean-Pierre Barral
Nissonite from Boss Mine, Goodsprings, Nevada, USA © Bruce Kelley
Nissonite from Boss Mine, Goodsprings, Nevada, USA © Jean-Marc Johannet

Nissonite in the World

The most beautiful known specimens are tabular crystals reaching 2 mm gathered in aggregates and encrustations, which come from Iron Monarch near Iron Knob (Australia), it is also known at Mount Isa (Australia), at Goodsprings (Nevada) and Panoche Valley (California).

Nissonite in France

Nissonite is not known in the French underground.

Twinning

No twins known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2.5
Density : 2.73
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Undetermined

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.584 to 1.621
Birefringence : 0.037
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Low
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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