Images
Formula: Cu(Ir3+Ir4+)S4
Sulphide, carrollite subgroup,
thiospinel group,
spinel supergroup,
iridium-bearing mineral, forms series with
cuprorhodsite and with
malanite
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 7.24 calculated
Hardness: 5½
Colour: Iron-black
Common impurities: Fe,Ni,Pt,Rh
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Placer deposits
Cuproiridsite occurs in alluvial deposits. Associated minerals include
isoferroplatinum,
cuprorhodsite, malanite,
osmium, iridosmine,
platinum, laurite,
erlichmanite,
cherepanovite, kashinite,
rhodian pentlandite, irarsite,
cooperite, sperrylite,
chalcopyrite and bornite
(HOM).
Localities
There are three co-type localities, Mount Filipp, Sobolevsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, the Chad Massif,
Ayan-Maya district, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, and the Konder alkaline-ultrabasic massif, Ayan-Maya district,
Khabarovsk Krai, Russia.
At the type localities, cuproiridsite occurs in placer deposits as inclusions, up to 300 µm in size, in
isoferroplatinum and
platinum
(Mindat).
Back to Minerals