Pašavaite is a rare palladium lead sulfide discovered in the polymetallic sulfide deposits of the Czech Republic. It typically occurs as minute, metallic grains within sulfide ores, requiring microscopic analysis for positive identification.
Is this pašavaite?
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 pašavaite with a known reference. Pašavaite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray; pale pink with a brownish tint in plane polarized light.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Pašavaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pašavaite leaves gray; pale pink with a brownish tint in plane polarized light, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Palladseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Pašavaite leaves gray; pale pink with a brownish tint in plane polarized light, Palladseite leaves black.
Often found alongside pašavaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pašavaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₃Pb₂Te₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 9.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray; pale pink with a brownish tint in plane polarized light
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Weak on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Likely formed from late-stage residual liquids segregated from a Ni-Cu sulfide melt derived from a highly differentiated mafic intrusion
Where rockhounds find pašavaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Talnakh deposit, Noril’sk-Talnakh mining camp, Taimyr autonomous District, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Likely formed from late-stage residual liquids segregated from a Ni-Cu sulfide melt derived from a highly differentiated mafic intrusion. If you start seeing polarite, sperrylite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pašavaite on the map
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