Temagamite is a rare palladium mercury telluride that typically occurs as microscopic grains within massive copper-nickel sulfide ores. It is primarily identified through reflected light microscopy or microprobe analysis due to its rarity and small grain size in hand specimens.
Is this temagamite?
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 temagamite with a known reference. Temagamite 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. Streak: black.
- 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
Temagamite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside temagamite
Minerals reported to co-occur with temagamite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₃HgTe₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 9.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Cogenetic with moderately high-temperature invasive chalcopyrite magma (Temagami Mine, Canada)
Where rockhounds find temagamite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- New Rambler Cu–Ni mine, Medicine Bow Mountains, east of Encampment, Albany Co., Wyoming, USA
- Temagami Cu–Ni mine, Temagami Island, Lake Temagami, Nipissing district (type locality) and from a prospect near Rathbun Lake, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Cogenetic with moderately high-temperature invasive chalcopyrite magma (Temagami Mine, Canada). If you start seeing merenskyite, hessite, chalcopyrite 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 temagamite?+
Where is temagamite found?+
Is temagamite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like temagamite?+
What minerals are found with temagamite?+
What kind of rock does temagamite form in?+
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Find temagamite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
