|
![Mineralogy Database Mineralogy Database](/images/Hedyphane_Crystal.gif) |
Potarite Mineral Data
|
|
|
General Potarite Information
|
Chemical Formula: |
PdHg |
Composition: |
Molecular Weight = 307.01 gm |
|
Mercury 65.34 % Hg |
|
Palladium 34.66 % Pd |
|
______ |
|
100.00 % |
Empirical Formula: |
PdHg |
Environment: |
Residual mineral found in diamond washings. |
IMA Status: |
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1926 |
Locality: |
Potaro River area, Guyana. Link to MinDat.org Location Data. |
Name Origin: |
Named for the locality. |
Name Pronunciation: |
Potarite |
|
Potarite Image |
Images:
|
|
Potarite
Comments: BSE probe image showing a composite grain of potarite (PdHg), and a PtNiFeCu alloy in an intertitial site and filling a fracture in a chromite grain (Chr).
Location: Southern Quebec Ophiolite Belt, Thetford Mines ophiolitic complex, Canada.
Scale: See Image.
© National Resouces of Canada |
|
Images:
|
|
Potarite
Comments: Potarite grains in a geletin capsule.
Location: Potaro River, Kangaruma District, Guyana.
Scale: Sample Size 4.1 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm.
© Rob Lavinsky |
|
Potarite Crystallography
|
Axial Ratios: |
a:c = 1:1.22715 |
Cell Dimensions: |
a = 3.02, c = 3.706, Z = 1; V = 33.80 Den(Calc)= 15.08 |
Crystal System: |
Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (4/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 4/mmm |
X Ray Diffraction: |
By Intensity(I/Io): 2.34(1), 1.274(0.8), 1.402(0.55), |
|
Physical Properties of Potarite
|
Cleavage: |
None |
Color: |
Silver white. |
Density: |
14.88 |
Diaphaneity: |
Opaque |
Fracture: |
Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals. |
Habit: |
Nuggets - Irregular lumps produced by stream transport of malleable metals. |
Hardness: |
3.5 - Copper Penny |
Luster: |
Metallic |
Streak: |
metallic |
|
Optical Properties of Potarite
|
RL Anisotrophism: |
Noted on inclusions, brown with an orange tinge.. |
RL Color: |
Cream to creamish white. |
Reflectivity |
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Potarite in Air
λ |
R |
![](../images/Reflect_scale_v.gif) |
∑ R(λ) |
440 nm |
57.50 |
![](../images/440nm.BMP) |
|
460 nm |
58.10 |
![](../images/460nm.BMP) |
480 nm |
58.40 |
![](../images/480nm.BMP) |
500 nm |
59.00 |
![](../images/500nm.BMP) |
520 nm |
60.00 |
![](../images/520nm.BMP) |
540 nm |
61.00 |
![](../images/540nm.BMP) |
560 nm |
61.70 |
![](../images/560nm.BMP) |
580 nm |
62.40 |
![](../images/580nm.BMP) |
600 nm |
63.00 |
![](../images/600nm.BMP) |
620 nm |
63.80 |
![](../images/620nm.BMP) |
640 nm |
64.50 |
![](../images/640nm.BMP) |
660 nm |
65.40 |
![](../images/660nm.BMP) |
680 nm |
66.00 |
![](../images/680nm.BMP) |
700 nm |
66.80 |
![](../images/700nm.BMP) |
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Potarite in Air
Relative Intensity |
0% |
20% |
40% |
60% |
80% |
100% |
120% |
140% |
160% |
R |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calculated Properties of Potarite
|
Electron Density: |
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=12.4 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Potarite =15.1 gm/cc. |
Fermion Index: |
Fermion Index = 0.27 Boson Index = 0.73 |
Photoelectric: |
PEPotarite =1,215.00 barns/electron U=PEPotarite x rElectron Density=15039.17 barns/cc. |
Radioactivity: |
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Potarite is Not Radioactive |
|
Potarite Classification
|
Dana Class: |
01.02.04.04 (01)Native Elements |
|
(01.02)with platinum group metals and alloys |
|
(01.02.04)Tetraferroplatinum group (Space Group P4/mmm) |
|
01.02.04.01 Tetraferroplatinum PtFe P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m |
|
01.02.04.02 Tulameenite Pt2FeCu P 4/mm 4/m 2/m 2/m |
|
01.02.04.03 Ferronickelplatinum Pt2FeNi P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m |
|
01.02.04.04 Potarite PdHg P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m |
Strunz Class: |
01.AD.25 01 - ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides) |
|
01.A - Metals and Intermetallic Alloys |
|
01.AD -Mercury-amalgam family |
|
01.AD.25 Potarite PdHg P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m |
|
Other Potarite Information
|
References: |
NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1) |
See Also: |
Links to other databases for Potarite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
Search for Potarite using:
[AOL]
[Bing]
[Dog Pile]
[GeoScienceWorld]
[HotBot]
[Ixquick]
[Lycos]
[MAMMA]
[Scirus]
[Teoma]
[WebCrawler]
[Wikipedia]
[YAHOO]
Visit our Advertisers for Potarite :
Ask about Potarite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in
Espaņol
Print or Cut-and-Paste your Potarite Specimen Label here :
Potarite
PdHg
Dana No: 01.02.04.04 Strunz No: 01.AD.25
Locality:
Notes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dakota Matrix
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Hudson Insitute
John Betts Fine Minerals
Mc Dougall Minerals
Mineral News
Rock and Mineral Shows
Weinrich Minerals, Inc.