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Osmium

Formula:
(Os,Ir,Ru)
System:HexagonalColour:White
Lustre:MetallicHardness:6 - 7
This page provides mineralogical data about Osmium.

Classification of Osmium

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.13-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.AF.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
F : Platinum group elements
Dana 7th edition ID:1.2.2.1
Dana 8th edition ID:1.2.2.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
2 : Platinum Group Metals and Alloys
Hey's CIM Ref.:1.76

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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Physical Properties of Osmium

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:White
Streak:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 7

Crystallography of Osmium

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 2.73Å, c = 4.31Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.579
Unit Cell Volume:V 27.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Osmium

Formula:
(Os,Ir,Ru)
Essential elements:Os
All elements listed in formula:Ir, Os, Ru
Common Impurities:Pt,Rh,Pd

Relationship of Osmium to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
1.AF.05Rutheniridosmine
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.AF.05Ruthenium
(Ru,Ir)
1.AF.10Iridium
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.AF.10Palladium
(Pd,Pt)
1.AF.10Platinum
Pt
1.AF.10Rhodium
(Rh,Pt)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
1.1Copper
Cu
1.2Silver
Ag
1.5Gold
Au
1.6Auricupride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.7Tetra-auricupride
AuCu
1.8Zinc
Zn
1.9Cadmium
Cd
1.10Danbaite
CuZn
 
2
1.11Zhanghengite
CuZn
1.12Mercury
Hg
1.13Kolymite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.14Moschellandsbergite
Ag
 
2
Hg
 
3
1.15Eugenite
Ag
 
11
Hg
 
2
1.16Schachnerite
Ag
 
1.1
Hg
 
0.9
1.17Paraschachnerite
Ag
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.18Luanheite
Ag
 
3
Hg
1.19Weishanite
(Au,Ag)
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.20Indium
In
1.21Aluminium
Al
1.22Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2
1.23Cupalite
(Cu,Zn)Al
1.24Diamond
C
1.25Graphite
C
1.26Chaoite
C
1.27Lonsdaleite
C
1.28Silicon
Si
1.29Tin
Sn
1.30Lead
Pb
1.31Anyuiite
Au(Pb,Sb)
 
2
1.31Novodneprite
AuPb
 
3
1.32Leadamalgam
HgPb
 
2
1.33Arsenic
As
1.34Arsenolamprite
As
1.35Paxite
CuAs
 
2
1.36Koutekite
Cu
 
5
As
 
2
1.37Domeykite
Cu
 
3
As
1.38Algodonite
(Cu
 
1-x
As
 
x
)
1.39Novakite
Cu
 
20
AgAs
 
10
1.40Kutinaite
Cu
 
2
AgAs
1.41Antimony
Sb
1.42Stibarsen
AsSb
1.43Paradocrasite
Sb
 
3
As
1.44Horsfordite
1.45Cuprostibite
Cu
 
2
(Sb,Tl)
1.46Allargentum
(Ag
 
1-x
Sb
 
x
)
1.47Aurostibite
AuSb
 
2
1.48Dyscrasite
Ag
 
3
Sb
1.49Bismuth
Bi
1.50Maldonite
Au
 
2
Bi
1.51Sulphur
S
 
8
1.52Rosickýite
S
1.53Selenium
Se
1.54Tellurium
Te
1.55Chromium
Cr
1.56Rhenium
Re
1.57Iron
Fe
1.58Chromferide
Fe
 
3
Cr
 
1-x
(x=0.6)
1.59Ferchromide
Cr
 
1.5
Fe
 
0.5-x
1.60Wairauite
CoFe
1.61Nickel
Ni
1.62Kamacite
(Fe,Ni)
1.63Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.64Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.65Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.66Palladium
(Pd,Pt)
1.67Potarite
PdHg
1.68Paolovite
Pd
 
2
Sn
1.69Stannopalladinite
(Pd,Cu)
 
3
Sn
 
2
1.70Cabriite
Pd
 
2
SnCu
1.71Taimyrite
(Pd,Cu,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.72Atokite
(Pd,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.73Rustenburgite
(Pt,Pd)
 
3
Sn
1.74Zvyagintsevite
(Pd,Pt,Au)
 
3
(Pb,Sn)
1.75Plumbopalladinite
Pb
 
2
Pd
 
3
1.77Iridium
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.82Platinum
Pt
1.83Hongshiite
PtCu
1.84Niggliite
PtSn
1.85Isoferroplatinum
Pt
 
3
Fe
1.86Tetraferroplatinum
PtFe
1.87Tulameenite
Pt
 
2
CuFe
1.88Ferronickelplatinum
Pt
 
2
FeNi
1.89Rhodium
(Rh,Pt)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):
1.2.2.2Ruthenium
(Ru,Ir)
1.2.2.3Rhenium
Re

Other Names for Osmium

Russian names:
Осмий
Varieties:
IridosmineRhodic Nevyanskite

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 Osmium

Reference List:Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume I: 111-113.

Canadian Mineralogist (1974): 12: 104-112.

Canadian Mineralogist (1991): 29: 231-237.

Internet Links for Osmium

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Osmium in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Osmium details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Osmium

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (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.
    Albania
     
    • Tropoja ophiolitic Massif
    http://www.env.duke.edu/faculty/boudreau/9thPtSymposium/Boshnjaku_Abstract.pdf
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Clarke Co.
    Carlo Tortorella
      • Cunningham Co.
        • Fifield
          • Woodburn
    [var: Iridosmine] Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data
      • Kennedy Co.
        • Condobolin
          • Fifield
    No reference listed
      • Rous Co.
    [var: Iridosmine] G. A. Albertson Data
    G. A. Albertson Data
    Carlo Tortorella
        • Evans Head
    G. A. Albertson Data
    • Tasmania
    Bottrill & Baker in prep
      • Corinna-Savage River district
    Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Heazlewood district
    Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Huon district
        • Weld river
    Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Rosebery district
    Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    Bulgaria
     
    • Blagoevgrad Oblast
    • Burgas Oblast (Bourgas Oblast)
    [var: Iridosmine] Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Atlin Mining Division
    Canadian Mineralogist (2005): 43: 1705.
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Canadian Mineralogist (2005): 43: 1705.
      • Similkameen Mining Division
        • Tulameen River
    [var: Iridosmine]
    • Québec
      • Mégantic Co.
        • Thetford Mines
    Can. Min. 28, 579.
    China
     
    • Hebei Province
      • Chengde Prefecture
        • Luan River (Luan He) valley
    Yu Zuxiang (1995): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 15(1), 1-4.
    • Hunan Province
      • Huaihua Prefecture
        • Yuanling Co.
    Chen Lechang et al. (1994), Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica 13, 232-238; abstract in Min. Rec. 27 (1996), 395
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Hohhot (Huhehaote) League
        • Wuchuan Co.
    [var: Iridosmine] Chen Keqiao, Yang Huifang, Ma Letian, and Peng Zhizhong (1981): Dizhi Lunping [Geological Review] 27(2), 108-115.
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
      • Nagchu (Naqu) Prefecture
        • Amdo (Anduo) Co.
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
      • Shannan Prefecture
        • Qusum (Qusong) Co.
    [var: Iridosmine] Wenji Bai, Robinson, P.T., Qingsong Fang, Jingsui Yang, Binggang Yan, Zhongming Zhang, Xufeng Hu, Meifu Zhou, and Malpas, J. (2000): Canadian Mineralogist 38(3), 585-598.
    Colombia
     
    • Chocó Department
    No reference listed
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Hradec Králové Region
        • Nová Paka (Neupaka)
    [var: Iridosmine] Moravec, B.: Zajímavé nerosty z granátových náplavů v Podkrkonoší. Minerál, 2002, roč. 10 č. 4, s. 262-268.
    Ethiopia
     
    • Wallaga (Welega; Wollega; Ouallega) Province
      • Assosa region
    P.M. Kartashov data
      • Gimbi
        • Yubdo (Joubdo; Youbdo; Joubda) District
    C. J. Stanley et al.: Mineralogical Magazine 69(4):447-453 (2005)
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Bouches-du-Rhône
        • Aix-en-Provence
          • Peyrolles-en-Provence
    Y. Moëlo : "Compte-rendu de la réunion "Systématique des Minéraux" du 23 novembre 1989", Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéral.
    Greece
     
    • Macedonia Department
      • Kozáni Prefecture
        • Kozáni and Grevena prefectures border area
          • Vourinos Mt ophiolite complex
    [var: Iridosmine] Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Indonesia
     
    • Borneo
      • Kalimantan
    [var: Iridosmine]
      • Kalimantan Tengah Province (South Kalimantan Province)
    Frank Keutsch specimen; microprobe analysis
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Sorachi Province
        • Uryuu-gun
    [var: Iridosmine] Masutomi Museum specimen (Kyoto)
    [var: Iridosmine] Ryoichi SADANAGA and Michiaki BUNNO (1974) THE WAKABAYASHI MINERAL COLLECTION Bulletin No. 7 The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
      • Soya Province
        • Esashi-gun
    [var: Iridosmine] Mitsubishi Corporation mineral collection, Ikuno
    Urashima et al (1972) Reports of the Faculty of Science, Kagoshima University, 21, 119-135.
    [var: Iridosmine] Ryoichi SADANAGA and Michiaki BUNNO (1974) THE WAKABAYASHI MINERAL COLLECTION Bulletin No. 7 The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Tazenakht
    S. Weiß: Lapis 31(7/8), 72-73 (2006)
    New Zealand
     
    • South Island
      • Parapara
    [var: Iridosmine] www.med.govt.nz/crown_minerals/minerals/docs/comreports/report05_pgm.pdf.
    Oman
     
    • Northern Oman Ophiolite
    [var: Iridosmine]
    Papua New Guinea
     
    • Central Province
      • Port Moresby area
    http://www.minport.com/showmrds-M045032.html
    • Northern Province (Oro Province)
    [AmMin 85:1325]
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
    www.cosis.net/abstracts/EAE03/14099/EAE03-A-14099.pdf.
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
    [var: Iridosmine] [World of Stones 12:49]
          • Aldan
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Amurskaya Oblast'
    [var: Iridosmine] Stepanov, V.A., Rogulina, L.I., Melnikov, A.V., and Yusupov, D.V. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(7), 619-623.
      • Chukot Peninsula
        • Chukotka (Tchukotka) Okrug
          • Pekul'nei Range
            • Northern Pekul'nei River
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
        • Koryak Mts
    [MinRec 31:201]
    [CanMin 38 p1251-1264 "The association of platinum-group minerals in placers of the Pustaya River, Kamchatka, Russia"]
      • Khabarovskiy Kray
        • Ayan-Maya district
          • Aldan shield
    [MinRec 31:201]
    Cabri, L.J., Laflamme, H.H. Giles, (1997), Platinum Group Minerals from the Konder Massif, Russian Far East, Min Rec. 28, 97-106
      • Koriak Autonomous Okrug
        • Koryak (Koriak;Koriakskhiye) Upland
          • Ust'-Bel'skii ultrabasic Massif
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Khanka lake
    Shcheka G.G., Vrzhosek A.A., Lehmann B., Tolstykh N.D. (2004) Associations of platinum-group minerals from the Zolotaya gold placiers, Primorye, Russian Far East, - Can. Miner., v.42, pp. 583-599.
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Isovsky District
    P.M. Kartashov data
          • Nizhnii Tagil
            • Solov'eva Mtn
    [var: Iridosmine] P.M. Kartashov data
    [var: Iridosmine] Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
    [var: Iridosmine] P.M. Kartashov data
    South Africa
     
    • Free State Province
    Minerals of South Africa
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Shetland Islands
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Bethel Borough
        • Goodnews Bay
          • Salmon River - Red Mountain District
    USGS Open-File Report 01-269
    USGS Open-File Report 01-269
    • California
      • Trinity Co.
    Alfredo Petrov collection; Excalibur Mineral Co. analyses
        • Trinity River (South Fork) Area
    [var: Iridosmine] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Crescent District
    [var: Iridosmine] NBMG ofr 88-1
    • Oregon
      • Coos Co.
    [var: Iridosmine]
      • Curry Co.
        • Beach Area
    [var: Iridosmine] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
        • Sixes River District
    [var: Iridosmine] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    [var: Iridosmine] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
      • Josephine Co.
        • Josephine Creek District
    [var: Iridosmine] www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/Bird.html.
    • Washington
      • Clallam Co.
        • Makah Bay
    [var: Iridosmine] Metal Mines of Washington-Preliminary Report; Derkey, Joseph, Lasmanis
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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