silniního

Silniního is a rare silicate mineral described in the mineral records of the Silnin region. It is characterized by a metallic luster and a Nickel-rich composition that can vary between samples. The name derives from the Silnin region and the local mineral-name conventions used in that area.

Silniního occurs in ultramafic serpentinite belts and in hydrothermal veins associated with nickel-rich magmas. It forms under high-temperature conditions and is frequently found alongside minerals such as magnetite, olivine, and sulfides. Economically, concentrations of silniního are typically too small to be mined as a primary ore, but it is of interest as a Nickel-bearing silicate in certain geological surveys.

Physical properties include a gray to black color with a metallic to submetallic luster. The streak is gray, and the mineral has a hardness of about 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It shows a density around 4.2 g/cm3. Crystals, when present, tend to be prismatic or tabular and often occur as compact grains. Cleavage is imperfect or absent, and specimens may exhibit a faint iridescent tarnish after exposure to air.

Chemically, silniního is interpreted as a nickel-rich silicate with variable amounts of iron and magnesium. Analyses typically indicate oxide components dominated by SiO2 and NiO, with FeO, MgO, and trace elements such as cobalt, chromium, and titanium. The exact stoichiometry varies among samples, reflecting substitutions in the crystal lattice.

Uses of silniního are primarily of scientific interest rather than large-scale industrial application. It contributes to understanding nickel-silicate mineral stability and formation conditions in ultramafic environments. Researchers study its zoning, trace-element chemistry, and potential implications for nickel mineralogy.