Metallic inclusions of the extremely rare Ag-Pd-Te mineral sopcheite from the TL in Sopche Massif (Sopcha Mt, Monchegorsk Cu-Ni Deposit,, Monchegorsk, Murmansk Oblast, Russian Federation). Probably analyzed because it is a polished section in epoxy resin, but the analysis is no longer available. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sopcheite
Sopcheite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula Ag₄Pd₃Te₄.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Key properties: specific gravity 9.948; Metallic. Anisotropism: Weak; yellowish red to bluish. R1 –R2: (400) 36.2–38.3, (420) 37.0–39.0, (440) 38.8–39.9 luster.
IMA symbol Sop, IMA status: approved, named in 1980.
Found in veinlets cutting chalcopyrite (Monchegorsk deposits, Russia).
It is found associated with Merenskyite, kotulskite, chalcopyrite, mackinawite (Monchegorsk deposits, Russia).
The name is taken from the type locality, Sopcha Mountain, Russia.