Annabergite: The mineral annabergite information and pictures

About

Annabergite is a rare nickel mineral that can often has a bright green color. It is the end member of a series with Erythrite, with Annabergite being the nickel-dominant member and Erythrite being the cobalt-dominant member. Annabergite often contains some cobalt in its structure. The color caused by cobalt will dominate, and will cause some Annabergite to have a purplish color even if there is less cobalt than nickel present. Annabergite is named after the locality of Annaberg, Saxony, Germany, which is a type locality for this mineral.

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Never in large crystals; most often encrusting and in small botryoidal groups lining cavities. Also in groups of fragile radiating, acicular, or fibrous groupings, in rounded spiky balls, earthy, and massive. Individual microcrystals are thin and bladed, with a distinctly angled termination and usually with growth layers or striations.

Striking Features

Color, crystal habits, and streak.

Environment

As a secondary mineral that forms as an alteration product in the oxidation zone of nickel ore and cobalt sulfide deposits.

Uses

Annabergite is a minor ore of nickel in nickel deposits.

Noteworthy Localities

Annabergite is not a common mineral. The only significant specimen locality of Annabergite is Lavrion, Greece, where it occurs in small bright-green, yet visible crystals. Other Annabergite localities include Cobalt, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada; and Cottonwood Canyon, Humboldt County, Nevada.