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Sulfosalt

Michenerite

PdBiTe
Hardness2.5
Crystal systemCubic
ClassSulfosalt
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Michenerite specimen

Michenerite , Chalcopyrite (Largest crystal size: 0.5 mm) Locality: Vermilion Mine, Denison Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada Original description: A michenerite crystal in chalcopyrite. This is the largest of two crystals found and as far as I know the first crystal ever found. — Photo: Reiner Mielke · CC BY-SA 3.0

Michenerite

Michenerite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula PdBiTe.

It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group P2_13). It is a member of the Ullmannite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 9.5; Black streak; Metallic. R: (400) 52.6, (420) 53, 6, (440) 54.4, (460) 55.3, (480) 55.8, (500) 56.1, (520) 56.4, (540) 56.5 luster.

IMA symbol Mch, IMA status: approved, named in 1958.

A principal palladium mineral in Cu–Ni sulfide deposits.

It is found associated with Testibiopalladite, froodite, merenskyite, moncheite, kotulskite, melonite, sobolevskite, hollingworthite, sperrylite, hessite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite.

In honor of Dr. Charles Edward Michener (1907–), Canadian geologist for the Canadian Nickel Company, who discovered the mineral.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more M minerals or help write this entry.