Merenskyite is a rare palladium telluride typically found in association with platinum-group minerals in layered mafic intrusions. Collectors usually find it as microscopic inclusions within base-metal sulfides, appearing as small white metallic grains under reflected light microscopy.
Is this merenskyite?
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 merenskyite with a known reference. Merenskyite sits at Mohs ~3.5, 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: white, grayish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Merenskyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Merenskyite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~3.5 vs. 1-1.5); streak differs, so Merenskyite leaves gray, Melonite leaves dark gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Merenskyite leaves gray, Kotulskite leaves black.
Often found alongside merenskyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with merenskyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdTe₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~3.5
- Density
- 8.547 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore mineral
- Host rock
- A principal Pd–Pt-bearing mineral, associated with numerous other Pt–Pd species; typically in disseminated interstitial segregations of Cu–Fe–Ni sulfides and enclosing silicates
Where rockhounds find merenskyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- New Rambler Cu–Ni mine, Medicine Bow Mountains, east of Encampment, Albany Co., Wyoming, USA
- Key West mine, east of Moapa, Bunkerville district, Clark Co., Nevada, USA
- Transvaal, from the Rustenburg mine, in the Merensky Reef, Bushveld complex (type locality), South Africa
- Messina, South Africa
- Great Dyke, Zimbabwe
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A principal Pd–Pt-bearing mineral, associated with numerous other Pt–Pd species; typically in disseminated interstitial segregations of Cu–Fe–Ni sulfides and enclosing silicates. If you start seeing moncheite, melonite, kotulskite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify merenskyite?+
Where is merenskyite found?+
Is merenskyite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like merenskyite?+
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Find merenskyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
