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Skaergaardite

Big Photo

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq complex, Kangerlussuaq Firth, Tunu (East Greenland) Province, Greenland
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
PdCu
System:IsometricColour:Steel grey
Name:Named after the Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq area, East Greenland.
This page provides mineralogical data about Skaergaardite.

Classification of Skaergaardite

IMA status:Approved 2003
Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.14-88
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.AG.45

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys
Dana 7th edition ID:1.2.3.2
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-26980.html
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Type Occurrence of Skaergaardite

Type Locality:Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq complex, Kangerlussuaq Firth, Tunu (East Greenland) Province, Greenland
General Appearance of Type Material:Skaergaardite occurs as droplets, equant grains with rounded outlines, subhedral to euhedral
crystals and as irregular grains that vary in size from 2 to 75 mm, averaging 22 mm.
Geological Setting of type material:In a tholeyitic gabbro.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
VasiliteTitaniferous MagnetiteSphaleriteOrthopyroxene SubgroupKeithconnite
IlmeniteHornblendeFayaliteEpidoteDigenite
CobaltpentlanditeCobaltpentlanditeClinopyroxene SubgroupChlorite GroupChlorite Group
Chlorite GroupChalcopyriteChalcociteCalciteBornite
BaddeleyiteApatiteAnkeriteAlbite-Anorthite SeriesActinolite

Physical Properties of Skaergaardite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Steel grey
Streak:Black
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=257 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:None observed
Density (calculated):10.64 g/cm3

Crystallography of Skaergaardite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Pm3m (P4/m 3 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 3.0014Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 27.0378 ų
Z:1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.122(100)
1.5000(20)
1.2254(50)
0.9491(20)
0.8666(10)

Optical Data of Skaergaardite

Type:Isotropic
Reflectivity:
400nmR1=55.1%R2=55.1%imR1=43.8%imR2=43.8%
420nmR1=56.1%R2=56.1%imR1=44.8%imR2=44.8%
440nmR1=56.9%R2=56.9%imR1=45.7%imR2=45.7%
460nmR1=58.0%R2=58.0%imR1=46.8%imR2=46.8%
470nmR1=58.65%R2=58.65%imR1=47.4%imR2=47.4%
480nmR1=59.3%R2=59.3%imR1=48.1%imR2=48.1%
500nmR1=60.2%R2=60.2%imR1=49.0%imR2=49.0%
520nmR1=61.2%R2=61.2%imR1=50.2%imR2=50.2%
540nmR1=62.4%R2=62.4%imR1=50.9%imR2=50.9%
546nmR1=62.6%R2=62.6%imR1=51.1%imR2=51.1%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 62.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red, imR1 shown in green, imR2 shown in blue

Chemical Properties of Skaergaardite

Formula:
PdCu
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Pd

Relationship of Skaergaardite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.AG.05Hexaferrum
(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)
1.AG.10Atokite
(Pd,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.AG.10Rustenburgite
(Pt,Pd)
 
3
Sn
1.AG.10Zvyagintsevite
(Pd,Pt,Au)
 
3
(Pb,Sn)
1.AG.15Taimyrite
(Pd,Cu,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.AG.15Tatyanaite
(Pt,Pd,Cu)
 
9
Cu
 
3
Sn
 
4
1.AG.20Paolovite
Pd
 
2
Sn
1.AG.25Plumbopalladinite
Pb
 
2
Pd
 
3
1.AG.25Stannopalladinite
(Pd,Cu)
 
3
Sn
 
2
1.AG.30Cabriite
Pd
 
2
SnCu
1.AG.35Chengdeite
Ir
 
3
Fe
1.AG.35Isoferroplatinum
Pt
 
3
Fe
1.AG.40Ferronickelplatinum
Pt
 
2
FeNi
1.AG.40Tetraferroplatinum
PtFe
1.AG.40Tulameenite
Pt
 
2
CuFe
1.AG.45Hongshiite
PtCu
1.AG.50Yixunite
Pt
 
3
In
1.AG.55Damiaoite
PtIn
 
2
1.AG.60Niggliite
PtSn
1.AG.65Bortnikovite
Pd
 
4
Cu
 
3
Zn
1.AG.70Nielsenite
PdCu
 
3
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
1.2.3.1Hongshiite
PtCu
1.2.3.3Nielsenite
PdCu
 
3
1.2.3.4Bortnikovite
Pd
 
4
Cu
 
3
Zn

Other Names for Skaergaardite

Synonyms:
IMA2003-049
Other Languages:
Russian:Скаергаардит

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Skaergaardite

Reference List:Rudashevsky, N.S., McDonald, A.M., Cabri, L.J., Nielsen, T.F.D., Stanley, C.J., Kretzer, Yu.L., and Rudashevsky, V.N. (2004) Skaergaardite, PdCu, a new platinum-group intermetallic mineral from the Skaergaard intrusion, Greenland. Mineralogical Magazine: 68(4): 615–632.

Articles/Blogs about Skaergaardite

Internet Links for Skaergaardite

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    Localities for Skaergaardite

    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Greenland
     
    • Tunu (East Greenland) Province
      • Kangerlussuaq Firth
        • Kangerlussuaq complex
    		Mineralogical Magazine, August 2004, Vol. 68(4), pp. 615–632.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Khabarovskiy Kray
        • Ayan-Maya district
          • Aldan shield
    		Cabri, L.J., Laflamme, H.H. Giles, (1997), Platinum Group Minerals from the Konder Massif, Russian Far East, Min Rec. 28, 97-106
    Mineral and/or Locality
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