Metallic inclusions of the extremely rare Pd-Hg-Te mineral temagamite in cobaltite from the type locality in Temagami mine (Copperfields Mine), Canada. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Temagamite
A bright-white palladium-mercury telluride discovered in 1973 at Ontario's Temagami mine.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Temagamite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula Pd₃HgTe₃.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Key properties: specific gravity 9.5; Metallic. Anisotropism: Weak in air, stronger in oil, in pale gray to dark gray. R1 –R2: (470) 51.8–52.8 luster.
IMA symbol Tem, IMA status: approved, named in 1973.
Cogenetic with moderately high-temperature invasive chalcopyrite magma (Temagami Mine, Canada).
It is found associated with Merenskyite, hessite, chalcopyrite, stützite.
The name refers to the Temagami mine in Canada, where the mineral was first found.