A polished section containing a nugget of both, sorosite and stistaite, in an analyzed specimen by SEM/EDS. From: Kovdor Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russian Federation. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sorosite
Sorosite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Cu₁₊ₓ(Sn,Sb).
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3mc). It is a member of the Nickeline structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 7.6.
IMA symbol Sor, IMA status: approved, named in 1994.
Very rare, in a gold-PGE placer probably derived from Alaskan-type complexes, formed under low-sulfur reducing conditions (Baimka placer, Russia); in concentrates from precious metal placers (Rio Tamaná, Colombia).
It is found associated with Tin, stistaite, herzenbergite, cassiterite, lead (Baimka placer, Russia); tin, stistaite (Rio Tamaná, Colombia).
The mineral was named to honor George Soros (1930–), American financier, for his support of science in the former Russian republics.