Malyshevite is a rare palladium copper bismuth sulfosalt that forms lead-gray grains and rims. Associated minerals include clausthalite, padmaite and quartz. It was first described from Srednyaya Padma mine, southern Karelia, Russia.
Is this malyshevite?
4-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 malyshevite with a known reference. Malyshevite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: grains and rims.
Often confused with
Malyshevite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Malyshevite and greasy on Descloizite.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3); luster reads metallic on Malyshevite and vitreous to somewhat greasy on Conichalcite.
Often found alongside malyshevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with malyshevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdCuBiS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.025 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Grains and rims
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the contact aureole of an impact melt sheet (Sudbury); in a U-V-precious metals deposit in albite-mica-carbonate metasomites (Srednyaya Padma)
Where rockhounds find malyshevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Srednyaya Padma mine, southern Karelia, Russia (type locality)
- Yanshan Mountains, Hebei, China
- Sudbury Igneous Complex, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the contact aureole of an impact melt sheet (Sudbury); in a U-V-precious metals deposit in albite-mica-carbonate metasomites (Srednyaya Padma). If you start seeing clausthalite, padmaite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: grains and rims. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify malyshevite?+
Where is malyshevite found?+
Is malyshevite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like malyshevite?+
What minerals are found with malyshevite?+
What kind of rock does malyshevite form in?+
What is malyshevite used for?+
Find malyshevite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
