Paolovite is a rare palladium tin mineral typically occurring as microscopic inclusions within copper-nickel sulfide ores. It is primarily identified through laboratory analysis of ore sections where it appears as small, metallic silver-white grains among other platinum-group minerals.
Is this paolovite?
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 paolovite with a known reference. Paolovite 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: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: irregular grains, twinning common.
Often confused with
Paolovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sperrylite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 5); streak differs, so Paolovite leaves grayish black, Sperrylite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Paolovite leaves grayish black, Cooperite leaves black.
Often found alongside paolovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paolovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₂Sn
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 11.32 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains, twinning common
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In Cu–Ni sulfide ores; in cubanite–chalcopyrite, cubanite–talnakhite, and cubanite–mooihoekite assemblages (Oktyabr deposit, Russia)
Where rockhounds find paolovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oktyabr deposit, Talnakh area, Noril’sk region, western Siberia (type locality) and in the Kingash massif, eastern Sayan, Russia
- Atok, Western Platinum, and Rustenberg mines, in the Merensky Reef, Bushveld complex, Transvaal, South Africa
- Little Darling Creek, east of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Strathcona deposit, Sudbury, and the Geordie Lake intrusion, Coldwell complex, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In Cu–Ni sulfide ores; in cubanite–chalcopyrite, cubanite–talnakhite, and cubanite–mooihoekite assemblages (Oktyabr deposit, Russia). If you start seeing cubanite, chalcopyrite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains, twinning common. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find paolovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
