Vysotskite is a rare palladium sulfide mineral typically found as microscopic grains or inclusions within larger sulfide ore bodies. It is primarily identified in laboratory or analytical settings within complex magmatic copper-nickel deposits.
Is this vysotskite?
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 vysotskite with a known reference. Vysotskite sits at Mohs 1.5, 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, strong.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: irregular grains.
Often confused with
Vysotskite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vysotskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vysotskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdS
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 6.69 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic, strong
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In andesine diabases (Noril’sk region, Russia) and in ultramafic layered intrusives elsewhere
Where rockhounds find vysotskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Upper and Banded portions of the Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
- Moapa, Clark Co., Nevada, USA
- Yuba River, Nevada Co., California, USA
- Noril’sk region, western Siberia, Russia
- Lac des Iles complex, Ontario, Canada
- Yen deposit (a code name), China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In andesine diabases (Noril’sk region, Russia) and in ultramafic layered intrusives elsewhere. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, millerite, nickelian pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vysotskite?+
Where is vysotskite found?+
Is vysotskite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like vysotskite?+
What minerals are found with vysotskite?+
What kind of rock does vysotskite form in?+
What is vysotskite used for?+
Find vysotskite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
