Sobolevskite is a rare palladium bismuthide mineral found primarily in magmatic sulfide deposits. It typically occurs as microscopic grains or intergrowths with other platinum-group minerals, requiring magnification or chemical analysis for positive identification.
Is this sobolevskite?
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 sobolevskite with a known reference. Sobolevskite sits at Mohs 4, 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: hexagonal. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Sobolevskite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sobolevskite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5).
How to tell apart: Telluropalladinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Sobolevskite leaves black, Telluropalladinite leaves gray.
Often found alongside sobolevskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sobolevskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdBi
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 11.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- In massive and disseminated Cu–Ni–PGE minerals; in copper deposits in organic-rich limestones; along grain boundaries in silicates in layered intrusives
Where rockhounds find sobolevskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oktyabr mine, Talnakh area, Noril’sk region, western Siberia (type locality), Russia
- Federov Pansky layered mafic intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Vostok deposit, Lukkulaisvaara layered intrusion, and the Burakovsky complex, Karelia, Russia
- Kingash massif, eastern Sayan, Russia
- Keivitsansarvi Ni–Cu–PGE deposit, Keivitsa intrusion, northern Finland
- Lubin and Polkovice copper mines, near Legnica, Zechstein copper district, Lower Silesia, Poland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In massive and disseminated Cu–Ni–PGE minerals; in copper deposits in organic-rich limestones; along grain boundaries in silicates in layered intrusives. If you start seeing paolovite, sperrylite, altaite 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
How do you identify sobolevskite?+
Where is sobolevskite found?+
Is sobolevskite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like sobolevskite?+
What minerals are found with sobolevskite?+
What kind of rock does sobolevskite form in?+
What is sobolevskite used for?+
Find sobolevskite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
