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Formula: Pd5(Sn,As)2
Arsenide, palladium- and
tin- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 10.27 calculated
Hardness: 5
Colour: Steel-grey
Magnetism: Non-magnetic
Solubility: Does not react to dilute or concentrated hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, but concentrated nitric acid
etches in 90 seconds and aqua regia in 30 seconds
Common impurities: Pt,Au,Cu,Pb,Sb,Bi
Environments
Palarstanide occurs intergrown with other minerals in massive ores of
cubanite, chalcopyrite and
talnakhite. Associated minerals include
pentlandite,
rustenburgite–atokite,
platinum-iron alloys,
polarite, sperrylite,
majakite and
gold-silver-copper
alloys
(HOM)
Localities
At the type locality, the Mayak mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Noril'sk, Putoran Plateau, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy
Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, palarstanide occurs only as intergrowths in massive
cubanite, talnakhite and
cubanite-chalcopyrite
ores. It is most often intergrown with minerals such as
rustenburgite–atokite,
platinum-iron alloys,
polarite, sperrylite,
majakite, mertieite and
gold-silver-copper
alloys with an intergrowth size range from 0.05 to 1.5 mm
(AM 67.858-859).
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