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Formula: Ni5P4
Phosphide of nickel, forms a solid solution with
transjordanite (AM 105.3.428–436)
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Colour: Dark grey
Environments
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Halamishite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2013.
Localities
At the type locality, the Halamish wadi, Hatrurim Basin, Tamar Regional Council, Southern District, Israel, five
new natural, terrestrial phosphides have been discovered in pyrometamorphic assemblages; the minerals are
halamishite (as minute
grains up to 20 μm in size), murashkoite,
negevite, transjordanite
and zuktamrurite.
The chalky-marly sediments of the
Hatrurim formation underwent extensive and repetitive high-temperature (500–1350°C) and low-pressure (~1 bar)
metamorphism.
At the Halamish wadi phosphides are disseminated in fine-grained hydrothermally altered
micro-breccia consisting of colourless almost pure
diopside. Other associated minerals include
merrillite, copper-bearing
trevorite, hematite,
magnetite, pyrrhotite and
troilite. The interstices are filled with
secondary calcite,
fluorapatite, smectites
and unidentified hydrous calcium-iron-nickel-magnesium phosphates. Halamishite and
negevite are closely associated with
zuktamrurite (sometimes hosting lamellae of
molybdenite),
transjordanite,
murashkoite and an unnamed
nickel phosphide–sulphide
(AM 105.10.1601-1602).
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