Tetraferroplatinum is a rare member of the platinum-group minerals primarily found as tiny grains in ultramafic rocks or sulfide-rich deposits. It is best identified through polished section microscopy or analytical chemical testing due to its inconspicuous appearance in hand samples. Collectors typically look for it as small, metallic inclusions within heavy mineral concentrates or chromite ore.
Is this tetraferroplatinum?
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 tetraferroplatinum with a known reference. Tetraferroplatinum sits at Mohs 4-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, silver white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, inclusions in other minerals.
Often confused with
Tetraferroplatinum 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. 4-5); streak differs, so Tetraferroplatinum leaves gray, Sperrylite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tetraferroplatinum leaves gray, Cooperite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tetraferroplatinum leaves gray, Platinum leaves grayish white.
Often found alongside tetraferroplatinum
Minerals reported to co-occur with tetraferroplatinum. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PtFe
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 14.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, massive, inclusions in other minerals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Ore mineral
- Host rock
- In a hortonolite dunite (Mooihoek, South Africa); in Uralian ultramafics and placers derived therefrom
Where rockhounds find tetraferroplatinum
Classic worldwide localities
- Nye, Stillwater Co., Montana, USA
- Mooihoek (type locality) and Onverwacht mines, in the Merensky Reef, Bushveld complex, Transvaal, South Africa
- Taimyr and Noril’sk-I mines, Noril’sk region, western Siberia, Sakha Russia
- Ioko-Dovyren massif, Baikal region, southern Siberia, Sakha Russia
- Kytlym and Uktus complexes, and in placers around Nizhni Tagil, Ural Mountains, Sakha Russia
- Konder massif, Aldan Shield, Sakha Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hortonolite dunite (Mooihoek, South Africa); in Uralian ultramafics and placers derived therefrom. If you start seeing geversite, irarsite, majakite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, inclusions in other minerals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tetraferroplatinum?+
Where is tetraferroplatinum found?+
What rocks look like tetraferroplatinum?+
What minerals are found with tetraferroplatinum?+
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Find tetraferroplatinum on the map
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