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Native Element

Skaergaardite

PdCu
Hardness4–5
Crystal systemCubic
ClassNative Element

Skaergaardite

A palladium-copper intermetallic from East Greenland's Skaergaard intrusion.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Skaergaardite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula PdCu.

It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Pm3m). It is a member of the Iron structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 4–5; specific gravity 10.64; Black streak; Metallic luster.

IMA symbol Skg, IMA status: approved, named in 2003.

Found in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions in association with sulfide minerals possibly formed from immiscible melts.

It is found associated with Nielsenite, keithconnite, vasilite, zvyagintsevite, (Cu, Pd, Au), (Pd, Cu, Sn), (Pt, Fe, Cu, Pd) alloys, unnamed phases Au3Cu and PdAuCu (Skaergaard).

The name refers to the occurrence at the Skaergaard intrusion, Greenland.

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