Sperrylite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Sudbury Rock & Lapidary Society
About Sperrylite
Formula:
PtAs2
Colour:
Tin-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
6 - 7
Specific Gravity:
10.58
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Named after Francis Louis Sperry (22 October 1861, Talmadge, Ohio, USA - 17 April 1906), chemist at Sudbury, Ontario, who discovered the mineral.
Pyrite Group.
S-rich variety was once functioning in the systematics as a separate species - 'platarsite' (now discredited).
S-rich variety was once functioning in the systematics as a separate species - 'platarsite' (now discredited).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3723
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3723:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
1c6f6c50-f5bc-4c34-aa16-5140c03cf683
IMA Classification of Sperrylite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1889
Classification of Sperrylite
2.EB.05a
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
2.12.1.13
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
3.12.50
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
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Spy | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Spy | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Sperrylite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Sperrylite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white
Streak:
Dark grey to black
Hardness:
6 - 7 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=960 - 1277 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on {001}
Indistinct on {001}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
10.58 g/cm3 (Measured) 10.78 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sperrylite
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R |
---|---|
400nm | 53.6% |
420nm | 53.6% |
440nm | 53.9% |
460nm | 53.9% |
480nm | 53.9% |
500nm | 53.9% |
520nm | 54.0% |
540nm | 53.9% |
560nm | 53.8% |
580nm | 53.7% |
600nm | 53.5% |
620nm | 53.1% |
640nm | 52.7% |
660nm | 52.3% |
680nm | 51.9% |
700nm | 51.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 54.0%.
Chemistry of Sperrylite
Mindat Formula:
PtAs2
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ir,Rh,Fe,Cu,Sb
Crystallography of Sperrylite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3 (2/m 3) - Diploidal
Space Group:
Pa3
Setting:
Pa3
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.967 Å
Unit Cell V:
212.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Cubes and cubo-octahedrons.
Crystallographic forms of Sperrylite
Crystal Atlas:
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005169 | Platarsite | Szymanski J T (1979) The crystal structure of platarsite, Pt(As,S)2, and a comparison with sperrylite, PtAs2 The Canadian Mineralogist 17 117-123 | 1979 | Onverwacht mine, Transvaal | 0 | 293 | |
0017786 | Sperrylite | Furuseth S, Selte K, Kjekshus A (1965) Redetermined crystal structures of PdAs2, PdSb2, PtP2, PtAs2, PtSb2, alpha-PtBi2, and AuSb2 Acta Chemica Scandinavica 19 735-741 | 1965 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0017684 | Sperrylite | Furuseth S, Selte K, Kjekshus A (1967) On the solid solubility and structural properties of PdAs2-xSbx, PtP2-xAsx, PtP2-xSbx, PtP2-xBix, PtAs2-xSbx, PtAs2-xBix, PtSb2-xBix, Pdl-mPtmAs2, Pdl-mPtmSb2, Pdl-mAumSb2, and Ptl-mAumSb2 Acta Chemica Scandinavica 21 527-536 | 1967 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0012151 | Sperrylite | Stassen W N, Heyding R D (1968) Crystal structures of RuSe2, OsSe2, PtAs2, and alpha-NiAs2 Canadian Journal of Chemistry 46 2159-2163 | 1968 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0012152 | Sperrylite | Stassen W N, Heyding R D (1968) Crystal structures of RuSe2, OsSe2, PtAs2, and alpha-NiAs2 Canadian Journal of Chemistry 46 2159-2163 | 1968 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
1.801 Å | (100) |
0.777 Å | (90) |
1.148 Å | (70) |
2.98 Å | (60) |
0.798 Å | (60) |
2.11 Å | (50) |
3.43 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals | |
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
38 : Ophiolites |
Geological Setting:
Ultramafic intrusions, platinum deposits.
Type Occurrence of Sperrylite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Brilliant grains, showing crystal faces, from 0.05 to 0.5 mm in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 1.2950, 1.5895.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Sperrylite
Varieties of Sperrylite
Platarsite | A S-rich variety of sperrylite. Originally thought to be a member of the Cobaltite Group with the formula PtAsS. Compare 'UM1973-04-AsS:IrPt', 'UM1989-20-S:AsPt', and UM2005-23-S:AsPt. |
Relationship of Sperrylite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Aurostibite | AuSb2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Cattierite | CoS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Dzharkenite | FeSe2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Erlichmanite | OsS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Fukuchilite | Cu3FeS8 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Gaotaiite | Ir3Te8 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Geversite | PtSb2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Hauerite | MnS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Insizwaite | Pt(Bi,Sb)2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Krut'aite | CuSe2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Laurite | RuS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Penroseite | (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Pyrite | FeS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Trogtalite | CoSe2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Vaesite | NiS2 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
Villamanínite | (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 | Tric. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
61 photos of Sperrylite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
14 photos of Sperrylite associated with Talnakhite | Cu9(Fe,Ni)8S16 |
11 photos of Sperrylite associated with Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
11 photos of Sperrylite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
11 photos of Sperrylite associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
10 photos of Sperrylite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
8 photos of Sperrylite associated with Cabriite | Pd2CuSn |
8 photos of Sperrylite associated with Stannopalladinite | (Pd,Cu)3Sn |
7 photos of Sperrylite associated with Gold | Au |
4 photos of Sperrylite associated with Hollingworthite | (Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.EB. | Iridarsenite | (Ir,Ru)As2 |
2.EB. | Selenolaurite | RuSe2 |
2.EB. | Andrieslombaardite | RhSbS |
2.EB. | Kanatzidisite | (SbBiS3)2Te2 |
2.EB.05a | Aurostibite | AuSb2 |
2.EB.05b | Bambollaite | Cu(Se,Te)2 |
2.EB.05a | Cattierite | CoS2 |
2.EB.05a | Erlichmanite | OsS2 |
2.EB.05a | Fukuchilite | Cu3FeS8 |
2.EB.05a | Geversite | PtSb2 |
2.EB.05a | Hauerite | MnS2 |
2.EB.05a | Insizwaite | Pt(Bi,Sb)2 |
2.EB.05a | Krut'aite | CuSe2 |
2.EB.05a | Laurite | RuS2 |
2.EB.05a | Penroseite | (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 |
2.EB.05a | Pyrite | FeS2 |
2.EB.05a | Trogtalite | CoSe2 |
2.EB.05a | Vaesite | NiS2 |
2.EB.05a | Villamanínite | (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 |
2.EB.05a | Dzharkenite | FeSe2 |
2.EB.05a | Gaotaiite | Ir3Te8 |
2.EB.05a v | Cayeuxite | |
2.EB.10b | Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
2.EB.10d | Costibite | CoSbS |
2.EB.10a | Ferroselite | FeSe2 |
2.EB.10a | Frohbergite | FeTe2 |
2.EB.10c | Glaucodot | (Co0.50Fe0.50)AsS |
2.EB.10a | Kullerudite | NiSe2 |
2.EB.10a | Marcasite | FeS2 |
2.EB.10a | Mattagamite | CoTe2 |
2.EB.10e | Paracostibite | CoSbS |
2.EB.10e | Pararammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
2.EB.10f | Oenite | CoSbAs |
2.EB.10a | Petříčekite | CuSe2 |
2.EB.15a | Anduoite | (Ru,Os)As2 |
2.EB.15a | Clinosafflorite | CoAs2 |
2.EB.15a | Löllingite | FeAs2 |
2.EB.15a | Nisbite | NiSb2 |
2.EB.15a | Omeiite | (Os,Ru)As2 |
2.EB.15c | Paxite | CuAs2 |
2.EB.15a | Rammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
2.EB.15a | Safflorite | (Co,Ni,Fe)As2 |
2.EB.15b | Seinäjokite | (Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)2 |
2.EB.20 | Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
2.EB.20 | Gudmundite | FeSbS |
2.EB.20 | Osarsite | (Os,Ru)AsS |
2.EB.20 | Ruarsite | (Ru,Os)AsS |
2.EB.25 va | Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite | Ni(As,Sb)S |
2.EB.25 | Cobaltite | CoAsS |
2.EB.25 | Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
2.EB.25 | Hollingworthite | (Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS |
2.EB.25 | Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
2.EB.25 | Jolliffeite | NiAsSe |
2.EB.25 | Krutovite | NiAs2 |
2.EB.25 | Maslovite | PtBiTe |
2.EB.25 | Michenerite | PdBiTe |
2.EB.25 | Padmaite | PdBiSe |
2.EB.25 | Platarsite | Pt(As,S)2 |
2.EB.25 | Testibiopalladite | PdSbTe |
2.EB.25 | Tolovkite | IrSbS |
2.EB.25 | Ullmannite | NiSbS |
2.EB.25 | Willyamite | CoSbS |
2.EB.25 | Changchengite | IrBiS |
2.EB.25 | Mayingite | IrBiTe |
2.EB.25 | Kalungaite | PdAsSe |
2.EB.25 | Milotaite | PdSbSe |
2.EB.25 | Paragersdorffite | Ni(As,S)2 |
2.EB.25 | Orthogersdorffite | NiAsS |
2.EB.25 | Kvačekite | NiSbSe |
2.EB.30 | Urvantsevite | Pd(Bi,Pb)2 |
2.EB.35 | Rheniite | ReS2 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Decrepitates slightly when heated. In the closed tube it remains unchanged at the fusing point of glass. In the open tube it very readily gives a sublimate of arsenic trioxide and does not fuse if slowly roasted, but if rapidly heated it melts very easily after losing a part of the arsenic.
Notes:
Only slightly attacked by aqua regia.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Ore of platinum.
Sperrylite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Sperrylite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3723.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sperrylite
Reference List:
forum.amiminerals.it (n.d.) http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18788&sid=141a85641a65a1992d0e185f9f4058b9
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-xpp.809-811
Szymański, J. T. (1979) The crystal structure of platarsite, Pt(As,S)2, and a comparison with sperrylite, PtAs2. The Canadian Mineralogist, 17 (1) 117-123
Szymanski, J. T. (1980) The crystal structure of platarsite, Pt(As,S)2, and a comparison with sperrylite, PtAs2: corrigendum. The Canadian Mineralogist, 18 (4) 563
Localities for Sperrylite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Broken Hammer Deposit, Wisner Township, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada