Cooperite (mineral)

Sulfide mineral
(repeating unit)PtS (also PdS, NiS)IMA symbolCpe[1]Strunz classification2.CC.35bDana classification2.8.5.1Crystal systemTetragonalCrystal classTetragonal - Ditetragonal dipyramidalSpace groupP42/mmc (No. 131)Unit cell73.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)IdentificationColourSteel grayTwinningOccasionalFractureConchoidalMohs scale hardness4–5LusterMetallicDiaphaneityOpaqueSpecific gravity9.5Density9.5 g/cm3 (Measured), 10.2 g/cm3 (Calculated)PleochroismVisible: white to creamy white or bluish whiteMajor varietiesFormDistorted crystal fragments, irregular grains to 1.5mm

Cooperite is a grey mineral consisting of platinum sulfide (PtS), generally in combinations with sulfides of other elements such as palladium and nickel (PdS and NiS). Its general formula is (Pt,Pd,Ni)S. It is a dimorph of braggite.[2]

It is mined as an ore of platinum and platinum group metals such as palladium. It occurs in South Africa in minable quantities and in an old mine near Mount Washington on Vancouver Island.[3]

It was first described in 1928 for occurrences in the Bushveld Igneous Complex and named after South African metallurgist Richard A. Cooper who first characterized it.[2][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b Mindat mineral data
  3. ^ "Cooperite (MinSocAm)" (PDF). MinSocAm Handbook of Mineralogy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
  • Webmineral data


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