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Atheneite

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Itabira, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil
© 2007, JGW

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Formula:
Pd
 
2
As
 
0.75
Hg
 
0.25
System:HexagonalColour:Grey
Lustre:MetallicHardness:5
Name:
For the Greek goddess Pallas Athena, in allusion to its palladium content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Atheneite.

Classification of Atheneite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/A.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.AC.05a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
C : Alloys of metalloids with PGE
Dana 8th edition ID:2.2.4.1

2 : SULFIDES
2 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.12.26

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
12 : Sulphides etc. of the platinum metals
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Type Occurrence of Atheneite

Type Locality:Itabira, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Place of Conservation of Type Material:The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1934,72, 1977,259; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 142504.
Year of Discovery:1974
Geological Setting of type material:Placer
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ArsenopalladinitePalladseiteIsomertieiteHematite

Physical Properties of Atheneite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):5
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=419 - 442 kg/mm2
Density (measured):10.2 g/cm3
Density (calculated):10.16 g/cm3

Crystallography of Atheneite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P62m
Space Group Setting:P62m
Cell Parameters:a = 6.813Å, c = 3.4892Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.512
Unit Cell Volume:V 140.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Blebs
Comment:The refinement of an anisotropic model led to an R index of 7.26% for 261 independent reflections
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.423 (vvs)
2.246 (vs)
1.871 (ms)
1.371 (s)
1.302 (s)
1.259 (s)
1.034 (ms)
Comments:Itabira, Brazil (ICDD 26-889). Abbreviations: m = medium, s = strong, v = very.

Optical Data of Atheneite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Distinct
Reflectivity:
400nmR1=46.1%R2= 48.3%
420nmR1=47.4%R2= 49.8%
440nmR1=48.5%R2= 50.9%
460nmR1=49.7%R2= 52.4%
480nmR1=50.8%R2= 53.6%
500nmR1=51.9%R2= 54.8%
520nmR1=53.0%R2= 55.8%
540nmR1=54.0%R2= 56.7%
560nmR1=54.8%R2= 57.3%
580nmR1=55.7%R2= 57.8%
600nmR1=56.4%R2= 58.3%
620nmR1=57.0%R2= 58.5%
640nmR1=57.4%R2= 58.6%
660nmR1=57.6%R2= 58.7%
680nmR1=57.9%R2= 59.0%
700nmR1=58.2%R2= 59.1%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 59.1%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:White with a bluish tint
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Pale yellow-white to bluish gray-white

Chemical Properties of Atheneite

Formula:
Pd
 
2
As
 
0.75
Hg
 
0.25
Essential elements:As, Hg, Pd
All elements listed in formula:As, Hg, Pd
Analytical Data:Itabira, Brazil; by electron microprobe.
Pd (66.0)
Hg (14.9)
Au (0.5)
Cu (0.1)
As (19.0)
Sb (0.1)
Total (100.6)
Empirical Formula:
(Pd
 
2.66
Hg
 
0.32
Cu
 
0.01
Au
 
0.01
)As
 
1.09
Common Impurities:Au,Cu,Sb

Relationship of Atheneite to other Species

Common Associates:
HematiteHematiteArsenopalladiniteArsenopalladinite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.AC.05bVincentite
Pd
 
3
As
2.AC.10cArsenopalladinite
Pd
 
8
(As,Sb)
 
3
2.AC.10bMertieite-II
Pd
 
8
(Sb,As)
 
3
2.AC.10aStillwaterite
Pd
 
8
As
 
3
2.AC.15aIsomertieite
Pd
 
11
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
2.AC.15bMertieite-I
Pd
 
11
(Sb,As)
 
4
2.AC.15aMiessiite
Pd
 
11
Te
 
2
Se
 
2
2.AC.20bPalarstanide
Pd
 
8
(As,Sn)
 
3
2.AC.20aStibiopalladinite
Pd
 
5
Sb
 
2
2.AC.20cMenshikovite
Pd
 
3
Ni
 
2
As
 
3
2.AC.25eMajakite
PdNiAs
2.AC.25aPalladoarsenide
Pd
 
2
As
2.AC.25fPalladobismutharsenide
Pd
 
2
(As,Bi)
2.AC.25cPalladodymite
(Pd,Rh)
 
2
As
2.AC.25bRhodarsenide
(Rh,Pd)
 
2
As
2.AC.25dNaldrettite
Pd
 
2
Sb
2.AC.30UM1999-02-As:NiRh
(Rh,Ni)
 
7
As
 
4
2.AC.30Polkanovite
Rh
 
12
As
 
7
2.AC.35aGenkinite
(Pt,Pd,Rh)
 
4
Sb
 
3
2.AC.35bUngavaite
Pd
 
4
Sb
 
3
2.AC.40Polarite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
2.AC.45cBorishanskiite
Pd
 
1+x
(As,Pb)
 
2
 , x = 0-0.2
2.AC.45aFroodite
α-PdBi
 
2
2.AC.45bIridarsenite
(Ir,Ru)As
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.12.1Seinäjokite
(Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)
 
2
3.12.2Laurite
RuS
 
2
3.12.3Ruthenarsenite
(Ru,Ni)As
3.12.4Anduoite
(Ru,Os)As
 
2
3.12.5Ruarsite
(Ru,Os)AsS
3.12.6Xingzhongite
(Pb,Cu,Fe)(Ir,Pt,Rh)
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.7Rhodplumsite
Rh
 
3
Pb
 
2
S
 
2
3.12.8Cuprorhodsite
(Cu,Fe)Rh
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.9Konderite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Rh,Pt,Ir)
 
8
S
 
16
3.12.10Bowieite
(Rh,Ir,Pt)
 
2
S
 
3
3.12.11Cherepanovite
RhAs
3.12.12Hollingworthite
(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS
3.12.13Vysotskite
(Pd,Ni)S
3.12.14Vasilite
(Pd,Cu)
 
16
(S,Te)
 
7
3.12.15Palladseite
Pd
 
17
Se
 
15
3.12.16Oosterboschite
(Pd,Cu)
 
7
Se
 
5
3.12.17Telluropalladinite
Pd
 
9
Te
 
4
3.12.18Temagamite
Pd
 
3
HgTe
 
3
3.12.19Sopcheite
Ag
 
4
Pd
 
3
Te
 
4
3.12.20Michenerite
PdBiTe
3.12.21Kotulskite
Pd(Te,Bi)
 
1-2
3.12.22Telargpalite
(Pd,Ag)
 
3
(Te,Bi)
3.12.23Merenskyite
(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)
 
2
3.12.24Palladoarsenide
Pd
 
2
As
3.12.25Stillwaterite
Pd
 
8
As
 
3
3.12.27Majakite
PdNiAs
3.12.28Palarstanide
Pd
 
8
(As,Sn)
 
3
3.12.29Arsenopalladinite
Pd
 
8
(As,Sb)
 
3
3.12.30Vincentite
Pd
 
3
As
3.12.31Palladobismutharsenide
Pd
 
2
(As,Bi)
3.12.32Stibiopalladinite
Pd
 
5
Sb
 
2
3.12.33Hexatestibiopanickelite
(Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te)
3.12.34Sudburyite
(Pd,Ni)Sb
3.12.35Testibiopalladite
PdTe(Sb,Te)
3.12.36Borovskite
Pd
 
3
SbTe
 
4
3.12.37Isomertieite
Pd
 
11
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
3.12.38Mertieite-I
Pd
 
11
(Sb,As)
 
4
3.12.39Mertieite-II
Pd
 
8
(Sb,As)
 
3
3.12.40Sobolevskite
PdBi
3.12.41Froodite
α-PdBi
 
2
3.12.42Polarite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
3.12.43Urvantsevite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
 
2
3.12.44Cooperite
PtS
3.12.45Braggite
(Pt,Pd,Ni)S
3.12.46Kharaelakhite
(Cu,Pt,Pb,Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
3.12.47Malanite
Cu(Pt
3+
 
,Ir
3+
 
)
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.48Moncheite
(Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)
 
2
3.12.49Maslovite
PtBiTe
3.12.50Sperrylite
PtAs
 
2
3.12.51Platarsite
(Pt,Rh,Ru)AsS
3.12.52Geversite
PtSb
 
2
3.12.53Daomanite
CuPtAsS
 
2
3.12.54Genkinite
(Pt,Pd,Rh)
 
4
Sb
 
3
3.12.55Stumpflite
Pt(Sb,Bi)
3.12.56Insizwaite
Pt(Bi,Sb)
 
2
3.12.57Erlichmanite
OsS
 
2
3.12.58Omeiite
(Os,Ru)As
 
2
3.12.59Osarsite
(Os,Ru)AsS
3.12.60Kashinite
(Ir,Rh)
 
2
S
 
3
3.12.61Inaglyite
Cu
 
3
Pb(Ir,Pt)
 
8
S
 
16
3.12.62Cuproiridsite
(Cu,Fe)Ir
 
2
S
 
4
3.12.63Iridarsenite
(Ir,Ru)As
 
2
3.12.64Irarsite
(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
3.12.65Tolovkite
IrSbS

Other Names for Atheneite

Synonyms:
IMA1973-050
Other Languages:
German:Atheneit
Simplified Chinese:砷汞钯矿
Spanish:Atheneita
Traditional Chinese:砷汞鈀礦

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 Atheneite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 59: 1330.

Clark, A.M., Criddle, A.J. and Fejer, E.E. (1974): Palladium arsenide–antimonides from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 528-543.

Cabral, A.R., Lehmann, B., Kwitko-Ribeiro, R. and Cravo Costa, C.H. (2002): Palladium and platinum minerals from the Serra Pelada Au–Pd–Pt deposit, Carajás mineral province, northern Brazil. Canadian Mineralogist, 40, 1451–1463.

Bindi, L. (2010): Atheneite, [Pd2][As0.75Hg0.25], from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil: crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula. Canadian Mineralogist, 48, 1149-1155.

Internet Links for Atheneite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Atheneite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Atheneite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Iron Quadrangle
    		Min.Mag.(1974) 39, 528-543
    • Pará
      • Carajás mineral province
        • Curionópolis
    		Villas, R.N., and Dias Santos, M. (2001): Mineralium Deposita 36, 300-331
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic
          • Dovyren Highlands
    		Rudashevskiy N.S., Krecer D.A., Orsoev D.A., Kislov E.V. (2003) Palladium-platinum mineralization in vein Cu-Ni-ores of Yoko-Dovyrenskiy laiered massif, - DAN, 391(4), p. 519-522 (in Rus.)
    • Northern Region
      • Komi Republic
        • Prepolar Ural
          • Kozhim River Basin
            • Maldynyrd (Maldy-nyrd) range
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Bushveld Complex
    		The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 43, pp. 1711-1734 (2005)
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