How Does Millerite Form?

Millerite is a common metamorphic mineral replacing pentlandite within serpentinite ultramafics. It is formed in this way by removal of sulfur from pentlandite or other nickeliferous sulfide minerals during metamorphism or metasomatism. Millerite is also formed from sulfur poor olivine cumulates by nucleation.

Where is Pentlandite found?

Pentlandite is found within the lower margins of mineralised layered intrusions, the best examples being the Bushveld igneous complex, South Africa, the Voiseys Bay troctolite intrusive complex in Canada, the Duluth gabbro, in North America, and various other localities throughout the world.

What are the uses of millerite?

Millerite serves as an important ore for the metal nickel. Thus, scientists use synthetic millerite to study the extraction of nickel from this mineral in laboratory settings.