Thumbnails
Millerite crystals
© Bill Lechner
Millerite crystals
© Modris Baum
NiS
Millerite is an extremely rare accessory mineral in igneous breccia cavities.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually brass-yellow.
Luster is metallic.
Diaphaneity is opaque.
Crystal System is hexagonal;
Crystal Habits include long and thin flexible striated acicular crystals
forming diverging sprays.
Cleavage {1011} and {0112} are perfect.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3 – 3.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 5.4 g/cm
Streak is green-black.
Associated Minerals include (??).
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1845 for William H. Miller (1801-1880), English
mineralogist, who first studied the crystals.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 2.8.16.1
Strunz Classification
# II/C.21-30
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:322 (1990), Dana 8:81 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
¤¤¤