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Formula: Rh3S4
Anhydrous sulphide of rhodium
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 7.52 calculated
Hardness: 6
Streak: Black
Colour: Black
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Placer deposits
Localities
At the type locality, the Bir Bir River, Yubdo District, Gimbi, West Welega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia,
kingstonite occurs as subhedral to anhedral, elongate, tabular inclusions between 15 and 40 µm in size in Pt-Fe
alloys. It is opaque, has a metallic lustre and a black streak.
Kingstonite was discovered in a 1.5 cm nugget from the platinum deposits
of the Yubdo district. The primary
platinum group minerals occur in fresh and altered
dunite and pyroxenite, as
well as in secondary placer deposits in the Alfe, Bir Bir and
Deressa rivers. The deposits are dominated by isoferroplatinum and lesser
tetraferroplatinum with minor
platinum group element alloys,
antimonides, arsenides and sulphides.
Kingstonite occurs as inclusions in a Pt-Fe alloy, either as a single phase or intergrown with
bowieite and
cuprorhodsite. Associated minerals include
isoferroplatinum,
tetraferroplatinum, a Cu-bearing Pt-Fe alloy,
osmium, and enriched oxide remnants of
osmium and laurite
(AM 91.711-712.
Kingstonite from the Bir Bir River - Image
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