Borovskite is an extremely rare palladium-antimony-telluride mineral typically found as microscopic inclusions in platinum-group ore deposits. It is almost exclusively found by professional prospectors or lab analysis within specialized ultramafic rock environments. Collectors value it as an exotic member of the platinum group of minerals.
Is this borovskite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch borovskite with a known reference. Borovskite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Borovskite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside borovskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with borovskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₃SbTe₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 8.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In massive pentlandite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite ores of hydrothermal origin
Where rockhounds find borovskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khautovaarsk Cu–Ni deposit, 20 km south of Suoyarvi, Karelia, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In massive pentlandite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite ores of hydrothermal origin. If you start seeing pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, altaite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify borovskite?+
Where is borovskite found?+
Is borovskite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like borovskite?+
What minerals are found with borovskite?+
What kind of rock does borovskite form in?+
What is borovskite used for?+
Find borovskite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
