A polished section containing the following 4 extremely rare palladium minerals: palarstanide, plumbopalladinite, polarite and atokite in a completely analyzed specimen by SEM/EDS. From: Noril'sk, Putoran Plateau, Taimyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian Federation. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Palarstanide
Palarstanide is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Pd₅(Sn,As)₂.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system. It is a member of the Stillwaterite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 10.27; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Pls, IMA status: approved, named in 1976.
Intergrown with other minerals in massive ores of cubanite, chalcopyrite and talnakhite.
It is found associated with Pentlandite, rustenburgite–atokite, Pt–Fe alloy, polarite, sperrylite, majakite, Au–Ag–Cu alloys.
The name refers to the principal elements, PALladium, ARsenic and tin, STANnum.