Small but outstanding specimen composed by a single brass colored sharp crystal of the extremely rare Pd antimonide naldrettite associated to a sharp gold crystal at the end, both analyzed by SEM/EDS. From: Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. After the analysis, it can be seen that naldrettite has a few imputities of As and S, substituting Sb. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Naldrettite
A palladium antimonide named for University of Toronto professor and platinum-group expert Anthony Naldrett.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Naldrettite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula Pd₂Sb.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Cmc2_1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4–5; specific gravity 10.694; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Nld, IMA status: approved, named in 2004.
Found in drill core through the contact zone between massive and disseminated sulfide mineralization hosted by amphibolite and serpentinite replacing pyroxenite and peridotite.
It is found associated with Clinochlore monoclinic pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, cobaltite, magnetite, sudburyite, electrum, altaite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Anthony J. Naldrett (b. 1933).