Mineral Database (Saesneg yn unig)
Bottinoite
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Formula: Ni[Sb5+(OH)6]2.6H2O
Status of Occurrence: Confirmed Occurrence - 1st UK recording
Distribution: Rare
Chemical Composition: Nickel hydrate antimony hydroxide
Method(s) of Verification: Hendrefelen Mine - XRD & EPMA (Natural History Museum); Mynydd Gorddu Mine - EPMA (Natural History Museum).
Chemical Group:
- Antimonates and Antimonites
Geological Context:
- Supergene : post-mining oxidation & weathering deposits
Introduction: bottinoite is a secondary mineral, formed through the alteration of nickel and antimony-bearing ore minerals, notably ullmannite. Bottinoite is typically formed in the post-mining supergene environment.
Occurrence in Wales: described as a new mineral species in 1992, the Welsh occurrences of bottinoite are limited to the Central Wales Orefield, where the few specimens so far discovered are microcrystalline.
Key Localities:
- Gwaithgoch Mine, Pontrhydygroes, Ceredigion: a mineral visually resembling bottinoite occurs rarely within highly altered ullmannite-bearing veinstone (Bevins & Mason, 1997).
- Hendrefelin Mine, Ysbyty Ystwyth, Ceredigion: well-developed pale green feathery sprays within cavities in highly altered ullmannite-chalcopyrite-galena bearing vein quartz were collected in 1989 by S. A. Rust and subsequently confirmed as bottinoite (Clark & Rust, 1993).
- Mynyddgorddu Mine, Bontgoch, Ceredigion: bottinoite, initially discovered in 1992 from this locality by S. A. Rust, occurs encrusting cleavage planes on small masses of ullmannite enclosed in quartz with chalcopyrite and galena (Clark & Rust, 1993).
References:
- Welsh metallophyte and metallogenic evaluation project: Results of a minesite survey of Dyfed and Powys. CCW Contract Science Report No. 156. National Museums & Galleries of Wales.
- Bottinoite, a mineral new to Britain. Mineralogical Magazine. 57, 543-544.
