Polydymite

(repeating unit)Ni₃S₄IMA symbolPld^[1]Strunz classification2.DA.05Crystal systemCubicCrystal classHexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)Space groupFd3mUnit cella = 9.48 Å; Z = 8IdentificationColorPale to steel-grayCrystal habitAs octahedral crystals, massive, granular to compactTwinningTwinning on {111}CleavageIndistinct on {001}FractureConchoidal to unevenMohs scale hardness4.5 – 5.5LusterMetallicStreakBlack grayDiaphaneityOpaqueSpecific gravity4.5 – 4.8Alters toTarnishes to copper-redReferences^[2][3][4][5]

Polydymite, Ni²⁺Ni₂³⁺S₄, is a supergene thiospinel sulfide mineral associated with the weathering of primary pentlandite nickel sulfide.

Polydymite crystallises in the isometric system, with a hardness of 4.5 to 5.5 and a specific gravity of about 4, is dark violet gray to copper-red, often with verdigris and patina from associated copper and arsenic sulfides, and is typically in amorphous to massive infill of lower saprolite ultramafic lithologies.

Polydymite is the nickel equivalent of violarite and in many cases these two minerals are formed together, potentially in solid solution.

Common contaminants of polydymite are cobalt and iron. Polydymite forms a series with linnaeite, Co⁺²Co⁺³₂S₄.^[6]

Paragenesis

Polydymite is formed by oxidisation of primary sulfide assemblages in nickel sulfide mineralisation. The process of formation involves oxidation of Ni²⁺ and Fe²⁺ which is contained within the primary pentlandite-pyrrhotite-pyrite assemblage.

Continued oxidation of polydymite leads to replacement by goethite and formation of a gossanous boxwork, with nickel tending to remain as impurities within the goethite or hematite, or rarely as carbonate minerals.

Occurrence

Polydymite is reported widely from the oxidised regolith above primary nickel sulfide ore systems worldwide. It is less common than related violarite, due to the high iron content of most primary sulfides.

Economic importance

Polydymite is an important transitional ore in many nickel sulfide mines, as it has increased nickel tenor (Ni% as a total of sulfide) and occupies a position within the mineralised profile where it must be extracted to pay for development down to the more valuable primary (hypogene) mineralisation.

References