Bowieite

bowieite

iridium

osmium

laurite

Images

Formula: Rh2S3
Sulphide of rhodium
Specific gravity: 6.93 calculated
Hardness: 7
Colour: Pale grey to Pale grey-brown
Environments

Placer deposits

Bowieite occurs in platinum alloy nuggets in placer deposits. Common associates include iridium, laurite, osmium and platinum (Mindat).

Localities

At the Gaositai Cr-PGE deposit, Gaositai, Chengde County, Chengde, Hebei, China, bowieite occurs in platinum-bearing ultramafic rocks intruded into a granite and hornblende gneiss complex (HOM).

At the type locality, the Salmon River-Red Mountain District, Goodnews Bay, Bethel Census Area, Alaska, USA, bowieite was found as anhedral grains, to 0.5 mm included in other platinum group minerals in a placer platinum deposit. Associated minerals include platinum-iridium, platinum, osmium, laurite and silicate inclusions. In addition an unidentified, anhedral grey phase was found as abundant inclusions 0.02 to 0.5 mm in size. Preliminary analysis indicated that this phase contains major rhodium, iridium and sulphur, with minor platinum (CM 22.543-552).

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