Padmaite is a very rare palladium bismuth selenide mineral that typically occurs as microscopic grains within ore bodies. It is primarily identified through electron microprobe analysis due to its minute size and complex association with other platinum-group minerals.

Hardness

3-4

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrare

Padmaite

Hardness: 3-4
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque

No image

Is this padmaite?

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 padmaite with a known reference. Padmaite sits at Mohs 3-4, 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: yellow.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: grains.

Often confused with

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

How to tell apart: Trogtalite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~7 vs. 3-4).

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Often found alongside padmaite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: PdBiSe
Mohs hardness: 3-4
Density: 9.86 g/cm³
Colors: Yellow
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Grains
Cleavage: Imperfect along two perpendicular directions
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In metasomatic rocks in shungite-bearing metashales (Russia); in hydrothermally altered (sericitization, silicification, with minor K-metasomatism) granite-related mylonite (Brazil)

Where rockhounds find padmaite

Classic worldwide localities

Padma River, southern Karelia, Russia (type locality)
Buraco do Ouro gold mine, Cavalcante, Goiás State, Central Brazil
Jinchuan intrusion, northern China

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In metasomatic rocks in shungite-bearing metashales (Russia); in hydrothermally altered (sericitization, silicification, with minor K-metasomatism) granite-related mylonite (Brazil). If you start seeing clausthalite, paraguanajuatite, bohdanowiczite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify padmaite?+

Mohs hardness is 3-4. Luster: metallic. Common colors include yellow.

Where is padmaite found?+

Notable localities include Padma River, southern Karelia, Russia (type locality); Buraco do Ouro gold mine, Cavalcante, Goiás State, Central Brazil; Jinchuan intrusion, northern China.

Is padmaite safe to handle?+

Padmaite contains selenium. Contains selenium and bismuth; avoid inhaling dust or ingesting particles as it may be toxic.

What rocks look like padmaite?+

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

What minerals are found with padmaite?+

Padmaite commonly co-occurs with Clausthalite, Paraguanajuatite, Bohdanowiczite, Sobolevskite, Froodite, Hematite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does padmaite form in?+

Where it forms: In metasomatic rocks in shungite-bearing metashales (Russia); in hydrothermally altered (sericitization, silicification, with minor K-metasomatism) granite-related mylonite (Brazil). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is padmaite used for?+

Padmaite is used in collector.

Find padmaite on the map

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