Sopcheite is a rare silver-palladium telluride mineral discovered in the layered intrusions of the Kola Peninsula. It is typically found as microscopic inclusions within copper-nickel sulfide ores and is highly valued by specialized collectors of platinum-group minerals.
Is this sopcheite?
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 sopcheite with a known reference. Sopcheite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sopcheite leaves a grayish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sopcheite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: grayish-white, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, inclusions.
Often confused with
Sopcheite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Sopcheite leaves grayish-black, Tellurobismuthite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Sopcheite leaves grayish-black, Hessite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Sopcheite leaves grayish-black, Kotulskite leaves black.
Often found alongside sopcheite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sopcheite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₄Pd₃Te₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 8.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Inclusions
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Layered Mafic-ultramafic Igneous Intrusions
- Typical price
- $100-500 for micro-specimens
Where rockhounds find sopcheite
Classic worldwide localities
- Monchegorsk pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in layered mafic-ultramafic igneous intrusions country — that is the host setting where sopcheite typically forms. If you start seeing palladseite, kotulskite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, inclusions habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sopcheite on the map
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