Potarite Locality: Kaietur Falls, Potaro River , Kangaruma District, Potaro-Siparuni Region, Guyana ( Locality at mindat.org ) 2 mm (each nugget). Potarite is extremely rare in nature - it is a Palladium Mercury amalgam. These 3 dark nuggets in a capsule may not seem too impressive, but the material is very rare and this has been validated by microprobe with Bart Cannon. This is from the original locality, from Dr. Richard Gaines' Collection. 3 specimens of nuggets to nearly 2mm each. From the type locality. Ex. Dr. Mark Feinglos Collection. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Potarite
Potarite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula PdHg.
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group P4/mmm). It is a member of the Potarite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 14.88; Silver-white streak; Metallic, bright. Anisotropism: Noted on inclusions in the fine-granular, apparently isotropic principal component luster.
IMA symbol Ptr, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1928.
Found in chromitite and dunite ultramafics; in placers for gold and diamonds.
It is found associated with Platinum, palladium, gold, Pd–Hg compounds; pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, millerite.
The name is derived from the locality on the Potaro River, Guyana.