Urvantsevite is a rare palladium-bismuth-lead mineral typically found in complex sulfide ores. It is primarily identified in microscopic grains within massive ore bodies, often requiring polished section analysis for positive identification.
Is this urvantsevite?
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 urvantsevite with a known reference. Urvantsevite 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: gray.
- 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: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Urvantsevite 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. 2.5); streak differs, so Urvantsevite leaves gray, Sperrylite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Kotulskite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Urvantsevite leaves gray, Kotulskite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Stannopalladinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Urvantsevite leaves gray, Stannopalladinite leaves black.
Often found alongside urvantsevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with urvantsevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd(Bi,Pb)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 9.66 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to subhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Perfect in one direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In massive zoned Cu–Ni sulfide ores (Talnakh area, Russia)
Where rockhounds find urvantsevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Majak mine, Talnakh area, Noril’sk region, western Siberia, Russia (type locality)
- Tilkerode, Harz Mountains, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In massive zoned Cu–Ni sulfide ores (Talnakh area, Russia). If you start seeing froodite, sobolevskite, paolovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify urvantsevite?+
Where is urvantsevite found?+
Is urvantsevite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like urvantsevite?+
What minerals are found with urvantsevite?+
What kind of rock does urvantsevite form in?+
What is urvantsevite used for?+
Find urvantsevite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
