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 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Palarstanide leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Palarstanide typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brass-yellow, golden-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: granular, massive.
Often confused with
Palarstanide vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Palarstanide leaves black, Chalcopyrite leaves greenish-black.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs — 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. 3-4).
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(As,Sb)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 10.4-10.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- Copper-nickel Sulfide Ores in Mafic Intrusions
- Typical price
- $50-300 per micro-mount or small specimen
Where rockhounds find palarstanide
Classic worldwide localities
- Talnakh deposit, Norilsk, Russia
- Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in copper-nickel sulfide ores in mafic intrusions country — that is the host setting where palarstanide typically forms. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, cubanite, pentlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify palarstanide?+
Where is palarstanide found?+
How much is palarstanide worth?+
Is palarstanide safe to handle?+
What rocks look like palarstanide?+
What minerals are found with palarstanide?+
What kind of rock does palarstanide form in?+
What is palarstanide used for?+
Find palarstanide on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
