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 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Yixunite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Yixunite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, pale gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
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
- Density
- 11.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Mafic-ultramafic Igneous Intrusions
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find yixunite
Classic worldwide localities
- Yixun, Hebei Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in mafic-ultramafic igneous intrusions country — that is the host setting where yixunite typically forms. If you start seeing platinum, isoplatinoferrite, chalcopyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find yixunite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
