Miessiite is a rare palladium telluride-selenide mineral typically found as microscopic grains within massive sulfide ore bodies. It is primarily identified through electron microprobe analysis due to its minute size and close association with other platinum-group minerals.

Hardness

2-2.5

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrare

Miessiite

Hardness: 2-2.5
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque

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Is this miessiite?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch miessiite with a known reference. Miessiite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
3
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: black, silvery gray.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: nuggets.

Often confused with

Miessiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Kotulskite

Mohs 4-4.5

How to tell apart: Kotulskite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 2-2.5).

How to tell apart: Merenskyite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~3.5 vs. 2-2.5).

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Often found alongside miessiite

Minerals reported to co-occur with miessiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Pd₁₁Te₂Se₂
Mohs hardness: 2-2.5
Density: 10.94 g/cm³
Colors: Black Silvery gray
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Nuggets
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: With gold and PGM nuggets in a placer sample from a river draining glaciofluvial gravels, sands, terraces, poorly-sorted sandy till and weathered bedrock

Where rockhounds find miessiite

Classic worldwide localities

Miessijoki river, Lemmenjoki area, Inari Commune, Finnish Lapland, Finland

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: With gold and PGM nuggets in a placer sample from a river draining glaciofluvial gravels, sands, terraces, poorly-sorted sandy till and weathered bedrock. If you start seeing stillwaterite, isomertieite, mertieite-ii in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: nuggets. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify miessiite?+

Mohs hardness is 2-2.5. Luster: metallic. Common colors include black, silvery gray.

Where is miessiite found?+

Notable localities include Miessijoki river, Lemmenjoki area, Inari Commune, Finnish Lapland, Finland.

Is miessiite safe to handle?+

Miessiite contains selenium. Contains tellurium and palladium; handle with care and avoid inhalation of dust during sample preparation.

What rocks look like miessiite?+

Miessiite is most often confused with Kotulskite, Merenskyite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with miessiite?+

Miessiite commonly co-occurs with Stillwaterite, Isomertieite, Mertieite-II, Cooperite, Braggite, Kotulskite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does miessiite form in?+

Where it forms: With gold and PGM nuggets in a placer sample from a river draining glaciofluvial gravels, sands, terraces, poorly-sorted sandy till and weathered bedrock. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is miessiite used for?+

Miessiite is used in collector.

Find miessiite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.