Palladoarsenide is a rare palladium arsenide typically found as minute grains within platinum-group mineral deposits. It is primarily identified through reflected light microscopy or microprobe analysis, as it rarely forms macroscopically visible crystals.
Is this palladoarsenide?
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 palladoarsenide with a known reference. Palladoarsenide 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: monoclinic. Typical habit: inclusions, irregular grains.
Often confused with
Palladoarsenide vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside palladoarsenide
Minerals reported to co-occur with palladoarsenide. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₂As
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 10.42 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, irregular grains
- Cleavage
- Perfect in two directions
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As minute grains in chalcopyrite in veins along the footwall of a Cu–Ni sulfide deposit (Talnakh area, Russia); from heavy-mineral concentrates (Stillwater complex, Montana, USA)
Where rockhounds find palladoarsenide
Classic worldwide localities
- Banded and Upper Zones of the Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- Komsomol’skii mine, Oktyabr Cu–Ni deposit, Talnakh area, Noril’sk district, western Siberia, Russia (type locality)
- Elatsite porphyry copper deposit, Srednogorie zone, Bulgaria
- Konttijarvi intrusions, northern Finland
- Lac des Iles complex, Ontario, Canada
- Kambalda, 56 km south of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As minute grains in chalcopyrite in veins along the footwall of a Cu–Ni sulfide deposit (Talnakh area, Russia); from heavy-mineral concentrates (Stillwater complex, Montana, USA). If you start seeing chalcopyrite, sperrylite, gold in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: inclusions, irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify palladoarsenide?+
Where is palladoarsenide found?+
Is palladoarsenide safe to handle?+
What rocks look like palladoarsenide?+
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Find palladoarsenide on the map
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