Garutiite
A rare platinum-group alloy of the osmium group, discovered in 2009 at the Loma Peguera deposit in the Dominican Republic.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Garutiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula (Ni,Fe,Ir).
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3/mmc).
Key properties: specific gravity 11.33; Metallic. Anisotropy: Very weak luster.
IMA symbol Gar, IMA status: approved, named in 2008.
Of probable secondary origin, formed at low temperatures during post-magmatic processes, such as serpentinization and/or lateritization. Found in heavy mineral concentrates from podiform chromitite deposits in ophiolitic rocks.
It is found associated with Hexaferrum, ferrian chromite, chlorite-group minerals, serpentine-group minerals, awaruite, irarsite, laurite, native Ru.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Giorgio Garuti (b. 1945), University of Leoben, Austria, for his contributions to the understanding of the mineralogy of platinum-group elements.