Braggite is a rare platinum-group sulfide mineral, typically found as microscopic grains within massive sulfide ore deposits. It is best identified by its high metallic luster, lead-gray color, and characteristic association with other platinum-group minerals in ultramafic rocks.
Is this braggite?
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 braggite with a known reference. Braggite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Braggite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cooperite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Braggite leaves gray, Cooperite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Sperrylite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Braggite leaves gray, Sperrylite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Platinum is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Braggite leaves gray, Platinum leaves grayish white.
Often found alongside braggite
Minerals reported to co-occur with braggite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdPt₃S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 10 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of platinum
- Host rock
- In layered mafic intrusives, formed at high magmatic temperatures
Where rockhounds find braggite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- Rustenburg and Potgietersrus (type locality) districts, in the Merensky Reef, Bushveld complex, Transvaal, South Africa
- Lac des Iles complex, Ontario, Canada
- Santiago River, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador
- Luanga complex, Serra dos Carajas, Para, Brazil
- Noril’sk region, western Siberia, and in the Lukkulaisvaara layered intrusion, Karelia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In layered mafic intrusives, formed at high magmatic temperatures. If you start seeing sperrylite, cooperite, laurite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find braggite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
