Silvery metallic nugget of the extremely rare Rh and Ir minerals, cuprorhodsite and cuproiridsite, in an analyzed specimen by SEM/EDS by the former owner of the specimen (the Vandenbroucke Museum). fROM: Aldan Shield, Sakha Republic, Russian Federation. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cuprorhodsite
Cuprorhodsite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula (Cu¹⁺₀.₅Fe³⁺₀.₅)Rh³⁺₂S₄.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Fd3m). It is a member of the Spinel structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 5.88; Metallic. R: (400) —, (420) —, (440) —, (460) 35.6, (480) 35.8, (500) 36.4, (520) 36.6, (540) 36.7, (560) 36.8 luster.
IMA symbol Crh, IMA status: approved, named in 1984.
Found in alluvial placers.
It is found associated with Isoferroplatinum, cuproiridsite, malanite, osmium, iridosmine, laurite, erlichmanite, cooperite, sperrylite, chalcopyrite, bornite (Chad massif, Russia).
The name refers to copper, CUPRum, RHODium, and Sulfur in the chemical composition.