Merenskyite Mineral Data

Merenskyite Mineral Data +

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General Merenskyite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 386.76 gm

Bismuth 10.81 % Bi

Tellurium 59.39 % Te

Palladium 24.76 % Pd

Platinum 5.04 % Pt

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Pd_0.9Pt_0.1Te_1.8Bi_0.2

Environment:

In disseminated interstitial seggregations of Cu-Fe-Ni sulfides with other platinum group minerals.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1966

Locality:

Rustenburg mine, Merensky Reef, western Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Hans Merensky (1871-1952), who was intrumental in the discovery of the "Reef" also named for him.

Synonym:

ICSD 83642

PDF 29-970

Merenskyite Image

Images:

Merenskyite Borovskite Temagamite

Comments: Borovskite (Bvk) - temagamite (Tmg) - merenskyite (Mrk) composite grain included in chalcopyrite (Ccp). (CanMin, v 42, p 674).
Location: McBratney high-grade PGE-Au occurrence, Bear Lake mafic unit, Proterozoic Flin Flon greenstone belt, Manitoba, Canada. Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist

Merenskyite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.28833

Cell Dimensions:

a = 3.978, c = 5.125, Z = 1; V = 70.24 Den(Calc)= 9.14

Crystal System:

Trigonal - Ditrigonal PyramidalH-M Symbol (3m) Space Group: P 3m1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.92(1), 2.1(0.6), 3.07(0.3),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

Wyckoff R W G , Crystal Structures , 1 (1963) p.239-444, Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York, Note: cadmium iodide structure

Physical Properties of Merenskyite

Color:

White, Grayish white.

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Habit:

Inclusions - Generally found as inclusions in other minerals.

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Hardness:

2-3 - Gypsum-Calcite

Luster:

Metallic

Optical Properties of Merenskyite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinct to strong, from dark brown to light greenish gray.

RL Color:

White.

RL Pleochroism:

Weak, white to grayish white in air, more distinct in oil, from white to slightly creamy.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Merenskyite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	58.20	59.10
420 nm	59.40	60.40
440 nm	60.60	61.70
460 nm	61.80	63.00
480 nm	63.30	64.40
500 nm	64.50	65.80
520 nm	65.60	67.20
540 nm	66.60	68.20
560 nm	67.40	68.90
580 nm	68.10	69.40
600 nm	68.50	69.70
620 nm	69.00	70.30
640 nm	69.40	70.80
660 nm	69.70	71.20
680 nm	69.60	71.40
700 nm	69.30	71.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Merenskyite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	20%	40%	60%	80%	100%	120%	140%	150%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Merenskyite

Electron Density:

r_electron=7.53 gm/cc
note: r_Merenskyite=9.14 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.11979
Boson Index = 0.88021

Photoelectric:

PE_Merenskyite= 574.08 barns/electron
U=PE_Merenskyite x r_electron=4,325.07 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Merenskyite is Not Radioactive

Merenskyite Classification

Dana Class:

2.12.14.4 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2

(2.12.14)Melonite Group (Trigonal: P3¯m1) AX2 type

2.12.14.1 Melonite NiTe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

2.12.14.2 Kitkaite NiTeSe P 3m1 3 2/m

2.12.14.3 Moncheite (Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)2 P 3m1 3 2/m

2.12.14.4 Merenskyite (Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)2 P 3m1 3m

2.12.14.5 Berndtite SnS2 P 3m1 3 2/m

2.12.14.6 Shuangfengite IrTe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

2.12.14.7 Sudovikovite! PtSe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

II/D.28-40 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/D - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium < 1:1, Tellurides with Copper, Silver, Gold

II/D.28 - Melonite group, Berntdtite - Moncheite series

II/D.28-10 Berndtite SnS2 P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-20 Kitkaite NiTeSe P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-30 Melonite NiTe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-35 Sudovikovite! PtSe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-40 Merenskyite (Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)2 P 3m1 3m

II/D.28-45 Shuangfengite IrTe2 P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-50 Moncheite (Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)2 P 3m1 3 2/m

II/D.28-60 Verbeekite! PdSe2 C 2, Cm, or C 2/m Mono

Other Merenskyite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Merenskyite

(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)2
Dana No: 2.12.14.4 Strunz No: II/D.28-40
Locality:

Notes: