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Arsenopalladinite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Arsenopalladinite is a triclinic-pedial silver-white mineral, containing palladium, arsenic, and antimony. The mineral was first discovered in Itabira, Minas Gerias in Brazil in 1974. It was named after the palladium and arsenic in its composition.

Properties of Arsenopalladinite

The following are the key properties of Arsenopalladinite:

  • Cell Data
    • Space Group: P1
    • a = 7.43
    • b = 13.95
    • c = 7.35
    • α = 92°53'
    • β = 119°30'
    • γ = 87°51'
    • Z = 6

  • Crystal Data
    • Triclinic
    • Point Group: 1
    • As rounded grains, to 1.8mm
    • X-ray Powder Pattern: 2.13 (100), 2.34 (60), 1.41 (40), 1.24 (30), 1.21 (30), 2.28 (20), 2.19 (20)

  • Chemical Composition
    Elements Content
    Pd 77.56
    As 17.08
    Sb 5.15
    Cu 0.02
    Total 99.81

  • Optical Properties
    • R1–R2: (400) 43.9–44.5, (420) 44.7–45.8, (440) 45.7–46.5, (460) 46.8–47.8, (480) 48.1–49.4, (500) 49.4–50.8, (520) 50.8–52.4, (540) 52.1–53.9, (560) 53.2–55.1, (580) 54.4–56.4, (600) 55.4 57.3, (620) 56.4–58.1, (640) 57.0–58.8, (660) 57.7–59.2, (680) 58.2–59.8, (700) 58.8–60.0

  • Estimated Properties
    Electron density Bulk density (electron density) = 9.55 g/cm3
    note: Specific gravity of Arsenopalladinite = 11 g/cm3
    Photoelectric PEArsenopalladinite = 218.6 barns/electron
    U = PEArsenopalladinite x ρ Electron density = 2087.65 barns/cm3
    Fermion index Fermion index = 0.17
    Boson index = 0.83
    Radioactivity
    Arsenopalladinite is not radioactive

How to Identify Arsenopalladinite

Arsenopalladinite is a silver-white mineral, having metallic luster and opaque appearance. It can be formed as anhedral grains or irregular lumps, produced by stream transport of malleable metals.

The density of arsenopalladinite is 10.4 g/cm3, and its hardness is 4.

Global Distribution

Arsenopalladinite is distributed in the following places:

  • Minas Gerais, in the Itabira district, Brazil
  • Caue iron mine, Brazil
  • Stillwater complex, Montana, USA
  • Merensky Reef, Bushveldt complex, Transvaal, South Africa
  • Siikakama and Konttijarvi intrusions, northern Finland

Occurrence of Arsenopalladinite and Useful Mineral Association

Arsenopalladinite occurs in gold concentrates.

It is closely associated with hollingworthite, sperrylite, vysotaskite, braggite, stillwaterite, palladesite, palladium, gpold, quartz, isomertieite, atheneite, and hematite.

References

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