The first occurrence of this mineral in Britain was announced by L. J. Spencer who found it in the great baryte-witherite vein at New Brancepeth, near Durham. It was found later by Sir Arthur Russell in the witherite vein at Settlingstones, Northumberland.

Spencer proved the presence of antimony in considerable quantity and of sulphur, and returned the nickel as 27·87 %, a quantity which agrees well with the accepted formula, NiSbS; the specific gravity was given as 6·70. In view of the rarity of the mineral and its scientific interest, a complete analysis was deemed advisable, and I have carried this out on a specimen from New Brancepeth, which came into my hands not long after its discovery.