- Polydymite
Polydymite, Ni2+Ni23+S4, is a supergene 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 insolid solution .Common contaminants of polydymite are
cobalt and iron. Polydymite forms a series withlinnaeite , Co+2Co+32S4 [ [http://www.mindat.org/min-8710.html Linnaeite-Polydymite Series] ] .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 agossan ous 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 most valuable fresh mineralisation.
References
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3258.html Polydymite on Mindat.org]
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