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Polarite

A valid IMA mineral species
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07069480017386945572709.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
05116080017271925933416.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Mayak Mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
07069480017386945572709.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
05116080017271925933416.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Mayak Mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
07069480017386945572709.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
05116080017271925933416.jpg
Polarite, etc.

Mayak Mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
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About PolariteHide

Formula:
Pd(Bi,Pb)
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
From the type locality in the Polar Urals.
Note: New analyses of the holotype sample of borishanskiite, defined as "Pd1+x(As,Pb)2 , x = 0-0.2" (IMA no. 1974-010), show that this mineral is identical to polarite (IMA no. 1969-032).

Compositional similarity to, e.g., urvantsevite and 'UM1981-02-Bi:AsPbPd'.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3251
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3251:9

Similar NamesHide

KolariteA valid IMA mineral speciesPbTeCl2
PilariteA mixture of two or more distinct mineral species
PotariteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredPdHg

IMA Classification of PolariteHide

IMA status:
Approved
Approval year:
1969

Classification of PolariteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.AC.40

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
C : Alloys of metalloids with PGE
Dana 8th ed.:
2.8.6.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
3.12.42

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 SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PlrIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of PolariteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=217 - Vickers

Optical Data of PolariteHide

Anisotropism:
slight color effects from gray to pale brown
Bireflectance:
none
Colour in reflected light:
white with yellowish tint

Chemistry of PolariteHide

Mindat Formula:
Pd(Bi,Pb)
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Bi66.259 %
Pd33.741 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Bi
Pd
Elements listed:
Bi, Pb, Pd - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Pt,Te

Crystallography of PolariteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Cmc21
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.19 Å, b = 8.69 Å, c = 10.68 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.827 : 1 : 1.229
Unit Cell V:
667.30 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Ccm21

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0014143PolariteMayer H W, Bhatt Y C, Schubert K (1979) Kristallstrukturen von Pd2PbBi und Pd4PbBi3 Journal of the Less-Common Metals 66 1-91979synthetic0293
0015532PolariteZhuravlev N N (1957) Structure of superconductors. X. Thermal, microscopic and x-ray investigation of the bismuth-palladium system Soviet Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics 5 1064-10721957synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.65 Å(10)
2.25 Å(5)
2.16 Å(9)
1.638 Å(5)
Locality:
Mayak Mine, Talnakh Cu-Ni Deposit, Norilsk-Talnakh Mining Region, Taimyr Peninsula, Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of PolariteHide

Synonyms of PolariteHide

Other Language Names for PolariteHide

Dutch:Polariet
German:Polarit
Spanish:Polarita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
8 photos of Polarite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
8 photos of Polarite associated with Taimyrite(Pd,Cu,Pt)3Sn
6 photos of Polarite associated with SobolevskitePdBi
6 photos of Polarite associated with SperrylitePtAs2
5 photos of Polarite associated with Native SilverAg
5 photos of Polarite associated with TetraferroplatinumPtFe
5 photos of Polarite associated with Atokite(Pd,Pt)3Sn
4 photos of Polarite associated with PalarstanidePd5(Sn,As)2
4 photos of Polarite associated with Stannopalladinite(Pd,Cu)3Sn
4 photos of Polarite associated with Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.AC.VadlazarenkovitePd8Bi1.5Te1.25As0.25Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.AC.TörnroositePd11As2Te2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.05bVincentitePd3AsMon.
2.AC.05aAtheneitePd2As0.75Hg0.25Hex. 6m2 : P62m
2.AC.10cArsenopalladinitePd8(As,Sb)3Tric. 1 : P1
2.AC.10bMertieitePd8Sb2.5As0.5Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.AC.10aStillwateritePd8As3Trig.
2.AC.15aIsomertieitePd11Sb2As2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.15aMiessiitePd11Te2Se2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.15bPseudomertieitePd11(Sb,As)4Hex.
2.AC.20cMenshikovitePd3Ni2As3Hex. 6/m : P63/m
2.AC.20aStibiopalladinitePd5Sb2Hex.
2.AC.20bPalarstanidePd5(Sn,As)2Hex.
2.AC.25cPalladodymite(Pd,Rh)2AsOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.AC.25dNaldrettitePd2SbOrth. mm2 : Cmc21
2.AC.25bRhodarsenide(Rh,Pd)2AsOrth.
2.AC.25eMajakitePdNiAsHex.
2.AC.25aPalladoarsenidePd2AsMon. 2/m : P2/m
2.AC.25fPalladobismutharsenidePd2(As,Bi)Orth.
2.AC.30'UM1999-02-As:NiRh'(Rh,Ni)7As4
2.AC.30PolkanoviteRh12As7Hex. 6/m : P63/m
2.AC.35bUngavaitePd4Sb3Tet. 422 : P41212
2.AC.35aGenkinitePt4Sb3Tet. 422
2.AC.45aFrooditeα-PdBi2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.AC.50ViteitePd5InAsTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.AC.50NipalarsiteNi8Pd3As4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for PolariteHide

References for PolariteHide

Localities for PolariteHide

Showing 19 localities.

This 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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Locality ListHide

- 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.
Canada
 
  • Ontario
    • Greater Sudbury
      • McKim Township
Ames et al. (2003)
    • Thunder Bay District
      • Seagull Lake Area
        • Seagull Lake complex
Wilson et al. (2013)
China
 
  • Hebei
    • Chengde
      • Fengning County
        • Boluonuo
Keqiao Chen et al. (1981)
Finland
 
  • Lapland
    • Sodankylä
      • Viiankiaapa mire area
Pelayo Barrón Francisco (2020)
Guinea
 
  • Kindia Region
Augé et al. (2018)
Russia
 
  • Irkutsk Oblast
    • Uda–Biryusa district
Shvedov et al. (2017) +1 other reference
  • Khabarovsk Krai
    • Ayano-Maysky district
      • Konder alkaline-ultrabasic massif
Kasatkin et al. (2025)
  • Krasnoyarsk Krai
    • Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug
      • Taimyr Peninsula
Spiridonov et al. (2015)
February 2009 +3 other references
Genkin et al. (1969) +3 other references
Razin et al. (1975) +2 other references
2014 Ultramafic-mafic intrusions
Kalugin et al. (2021)
  • Republic of Karelia
    • Medvezhyegorsky District
      • Zaonezhie peninsula
American Mineralogist +2 other references
South Africa
 
  • Limpopo
    • Waterberg District Municipality
      • Mogalakwena Local Municipality
Hutchinson et al. (2005)
Ramakoloi N (2014)
Hutchinson et al. (2005)
USA
 
  • Alaska
    • Bethel Census Area
      • Goodnews Bay
        • Salmon River - Red Mountain District
Anthony et al. (1990)
Zimbabwe
 
  • Midlands
    • Shurugwi District
Anglo American plc
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