Yixunite is an extremely rare platinum-indium alloy primarily known from placer deposits in the Yixun River area of China. It typically appears as microscopic anhedral grains associated with other platinum-group minerals in heavy mineral concentrates. Due to its extreme rarity and minute grain size, it is almost exclusively of interest to advanced mineralogists and systematic collection suites.
Is this yixunite?
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 yixunite with a known reference. Yixunite sits at Mohs 5.8, 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: bright white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: globular.
Often confused with
Yixunite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside yixunite
Minerals reported to co-occur with yixunite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pt₃In
- Mohs hardness
- 5.8
- Density
- 18.21-18.32 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright white
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Globular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a contact metasomatic Co–Cu–Pt-bearing vein in garnet-amphibole pyroxenite in contact with anorthosite and granite
Where rockhounds find yixunite
Classic worldwide localities
- Near the village of Damiao and the Yixun River, about 370 km N of Beijing, People's Republic of China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a contact metasomatic Co–Cu–Pt-bearing vein in garnet-amphibole pyroxenite in contact with anorthosite and granite. If you start seeing moncheite, sperrylite, cooperite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: globular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify yixunite?+
Where is yixunite found?+
What rocks look like yixunite?+
What minerals are found with yixunite?+
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Find yixunite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
