Golden metallic crystals of the extremely rare Cadmium mineral shadlunite from Norilsk. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Shadlunite
Shadlunite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula (Fe,Cu)₈(Pb,Cd)S₈.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system. It is a member of the Pentlandite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 4.72; Metallic luster; optically isotropic.
IMA symbol Slu, IMA status: approved, named in 1972.
Occurs as tiny grains and veinlets cutting Cu–Ni sulfide ores.
It is found associated with Manganese-shadlunite, cubanite, talnakhite.
In honor of Soviet mineralogist Tat’yana Nikolaevna Shadlun (1912–1996), researcher on ore minerals, Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Moscow, Russia.