Malanite is a rare copper-platinum sulfide belonging to the spinel group. It typically occurs as microscopic anhedral grains associated with other sulfide minerals in platinum-rich magmatic deposits.
Is this malanite?
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 malanite with a known reference. Malanite sits at Mohs 5, 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: steel gray, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Malanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sperrylite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 5).
How to tell apart: Malanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3-3.25); streak differs, so Malanite leaves black, Bornite leaves pale grayish black.
Often found alongside malanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with malanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu(IrPt)S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 7.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- On {111}, may be observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In peridotite-type platinum ores with Cu–Ni sulfides (Malan Valley, China)
Where rockhounds find malanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hebei Province, from the Malan Valley, Zunhua Co., about 150 km east of Beijing (type locality), China
- Shuangfeng village, Yanshan Mountains, about 200 km northeast of Beijing, China
- Damiao village and the Yixun River, about 270 km north of Beijing, China
- Konder massif, Aldan Shield, Sakha, and in the Mt. Bolshaya Varaka deposit, Imandra complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Kirakkajuppura deposit, Penikat layered complex, northeast of Kemi, Finland
- Ojén lherzolite massif, Málaga Province, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In peridotite-type platinum ores with Cu–Ni sulfides (Malan Valley, China). If you start seeing pentlandite, pyrrhotite, bornite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find malanite on the map
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