Insizwaite

insizwaite

niggliite

argentopentlandite

mackinawite

Images

Formula: PtBi2
Bismuthide, pyrite group
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 12.8 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 5½
Colour: Tin-white
Solubility:
Common impurities: Pd,Ni,Sn,Te
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Localities

At the Sudbury Complex, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada, insizwaite occurs in copper-nickel sulphide ore (HOM).

At the type locality, Waterfall gorge, Insizwa, Alfred Nzo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa, insizwaite is of hydrothermal origin, in a vein cutting massif pyrrhotite ore, where it occurs as small rounded grains. Associated minerals include pentlandite, cubanite, hessite, altaite, argentopentlandite, chalcopyrite, mackinawite, niggliite, froodite, parkerite, galena, sphalerite, magnetite and pyrrhotite (MM 38.794-800, HOM).

Back to Minerals