Miassite is a very rare rhodium sulfide mineral first discovered in the Ural Mountains. It is typically found as microscopic inclusions within platinum group mineral assemblages in ultramafic rocks, making it a highly sought-after specimen for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this miassite?
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 miassite with a known reference. Miassite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Miassite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Miassite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Miassite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Miassite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Miassite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Miassite leaves black, Pentlandite leaves light bronze-brown.
Often found alongside miassite
Minerals reported to co-occur with miassite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Rh₁₇S₁₅
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 9.35 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $100-500 for micro-mounts
Where rockhounds find miassite
Classic worldwide localities
- Miass, Ural Mountains, Russia
- Konder Massif, Russia
- Stillwater Complex, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic igneous rocks country, the host setting where miassite typically forms. If you start seeing platinum group minerals, chromite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find miassite on the map
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