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, so 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, 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. 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, 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
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Find palarstanide on the map
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