Global InformationSkaergaardite information
| Skaergaardite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Platinum group mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | PdCu |
| IMA symbol | Skg[1] |
| Strunz classification | 1.AG.30 |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
| Space group | Pm3m |
| Unit cell | a = 3.0014(2) Å V = 27.0378 Å3, Z = 1 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Steel grey with a bronze tint |
| Crystal habit | Occurs as droplets, equant grains with rounded outlines, subhedral to euhedral crystals, and as irregular grains that vary in size from 2 to 75 micrometers, averaging 22 micrometers. |
| Tenacity | Sectile |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4 to 5 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Streak | Black |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 10.64 |
| Optical properties | Isotropic; no discernible internal reflections; color varying from bright creamy white to bright white. |
| Pleochroism | Non-pleochroic |
| Other characteristics | Typically found in composite microglobules in tholeitic gabbro. |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Skaergaardite is an intermetallic platinum group mineral with the general chemical formula PdCu. The mineral is named after its discovery location: the Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerdlugssuaq area, East Greenland. The mineral name was approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 2003. The mineral has also been reported in the Duluth intrusion in Minnesota and the Rum layered intrusion in Scotland.[3]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Ralph, J., and Chau, I., "Skaergaardite." Mindat.org. <http://www.mindat.org/min-26980.html>. Accessed 30 September 2010.
- ^ a b Rudashevsky, N.S., McDonald, A.M., Cabri, L.J., Nielsen, T.F.D., Stanley, C.J., Kretzer, Yu. L., and Rudashevsky, V.N. (2004) Skaergaardite, PdCu, a new platinum-group intermetallic mineral from the Skaergaard intrusion, Greenland. Mineralogical Magazine, 68, 615-632.
- ^ Webmineral data