Annabergite has been known since the 18th century, although type localities were not published along initial descriptions. The first report of Annabergite by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt from 1758 erroneously identifies it as a nickel oxide mineral and assigned it the latinized name Ochra niccoli, while Wallerius gave it the name nickel bloom in 1778.
Annabergite was thoroughly described in 1852 by Brooke and Miller[3] from specimens found in Annaberg in Saxony, which was proposed as namesake for the mineral.
Properties
Annabergite crystallizes in the monoclinic system and is isomorphous with vivianite and erythrite. It most commonly occurs as microcristalline coatings, soft earthy masses and encrustations. Well developed crystals are relatively rare and usually remain minute and capillary. The color of Annabergite varies shades of green. The presence of Cobalt modifies the color towards grey, samples high in cobalt showing a rose red color.[3]
Related minerals
Annabergite occurs with ores of nickel and has been found from numerous localities worldwide.
The mineral is part of the vivianite group, hydrate bearing phosphate or arsenate minerals. Within that group, several series of minerals have been described, in which the nickel is partially replaced by other ions. The corresponding endpoints are Erythrite for cobalt and Köttigite for zinc. The series endpoint for the replacement of nickel with magnesium is Hörnesite. Minerals on that scale have been designated Cabrerite, which only refers to an ordered magnesium-dominated crystal since 2024.[5]Calcium-bearing specimens, known from Creetown in Kirkcudbrightshire, have been called Dudgeonite,[6] named after its discoverer P. Dudgeon.[7]
