Palarstanide is a rare palladium arsenide that typically occurs as microscopic grains within copper-nickel sulfide ore deposits. Collectors rarely encounter this mineral except in high-end micro-mounts, where it is identified by its distinct brassy metallic luster and association with other platinum-group minerals.
Is this palarstanide?
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 palarstanide with a known reference. Palarstanide sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic.
Often confused with
Palarstanide vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Palarstanide is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Palarstanide leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish black.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 5); streak differs, so Palarstanide leaves black, Pyrite leaves greenish black to brownish black.
How to tell apart: Sperrylite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 5).
Often found alongside palarstanide
Minerals reported to co-occur with palarstanide. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₅(Sn,As)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 10.27 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal, prismatic
- Cleavage
- {0001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- Intergrown with other minerals in massive ores of cubanite, chalcopyrite and talnakhite
Where rockhounds find palarstanide
Classic worldwide localities
- Majak mine, Talnakh area, Noril’sk region, western Siberia, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Intergrown with other minerals in massive ores of cubanite, chalcopyrite and talnakhite. If you start seeing pentlandite, rustenburgite–atokite, pt–fe alloy in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find palarstanide on the map
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