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Skaergaardite

A valid IMA mineral species
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02318130017692975547622.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
04080350017272004045244.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
00369940017272470911774.jpg
Skaergaardite, etc.

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
02301430017272004066302.jpg
Skaergaardite, etc.

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
02318130017692975547622.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
02151070017702053845127.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
00369940017272470911774.jpg
Skaergaardite, etc.

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
00208870017691742252355.jpg
Skaergaardite, etc.

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
06728460017692976036482.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
04080350017272004045244.jpg
Skaergaardite

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
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About SkaergaarditeHide

05476910017272470915901.jpg
Skaergaard intrusion

Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
Formula:
PdCu
Colour:
Steel grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
10.64 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after the Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq area, East Greenland.
Compare UM2004-06-E:AgCuHgPdTe.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
26980
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:26980:3

IMA Classification of SkaergaarditeHide

IMA status:
Approved
Approval year:
2003
First published:
2004

Classification of SkaergaarditeHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
1.AG.45

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys
Dana 7th ed.:
1.2.3.2

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

Physical Properties of SkaergaarditeHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel grey
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
VHN25=257 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
None observed
Density:
10.64 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SkaergaarditeHide

Anisotropism:
Isotropic
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm55.1%43.8%
420nm56.1%44.8%
440nm56.9%45.7%
460nm58.0%46.8%
470nm58.65%47.4%
480nm59.3%48.1%
500nm60.2%49.0%
520nm61.2%50.2%
540nm62.4%50.9%
546nm62.6%51.1%
560nm63.0%51.7%
580nm63.9%52.6%
589nm64.1%52.8%
600nm64.3%53.0%
620nm64.9%53.4%
640nm65.1%53.8%
650nm65.25%53.95%
660nm65.4%54.1%
680nm65.7%54.6%
700nm66.2%55.0%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 66.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bright creamy white to bright white.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Second column of reflectivity data is in oil.

Chemistry of SkaergaarditeHide

Mindat Formula:
PdCu
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Pd62.613 %
Cu37.388 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Pd
Cu
Elements listed:
Cu, Pd - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SkaergaarditeHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Pm3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.0014 Å
Unit Cell V:
27.0378 ų
Z:
1

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0011491SkaergaarditeWyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 85-23719630293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.122 Å(100)
1.5000 Å(20)
1.2254 Å(50)
0.9491 Å(20)
0.8666 Å(10)
0.8021 Å(70)
Locality:
Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of SkaergaarditeHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Skaergaard intrusion, Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
General Appearance of Type Material:
Skaergaardite occurs as droplets, equant grains with rounded outlines, subhedral to euhedral crystals and as irregular grains that vary in size from 2 to 75 mm, averaging 22 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geology Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark (90-24 1057 45-1, 45-2, 125-2, 125-3; GM 2004.66).
Natural History Museum, London, England (BM 2003,47).
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario (90-24 1057 75-1; CMNMC 84396).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a tholeyitic gabbro.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
ActinoliteAnkerite'Apatite'BaddeleyiteBornite
CalciteChalcociteChalcopyriteChlorite GroupClinopyroxene Subgroup
CobaltpentlanditeDigeniteEpidoteFayalite'Hornblende'
IlmeniteKeithconniteOrthopyroxene SubgroupPlagioclaseSphalerite
'Titanium-bearing Magnetite'Vasilite

Synonyms of SkaergaarditeHide

Other Language Names for SkaergaarditeHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Skaergaardite associated with BorniteCu5FeS4
4 photos of Skaergaardite associated with ChalcociteCu2S
2 photos of Skaergaardite associated with IlmeniteFe2+TiO3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

1.AG.SluzhenikinitePd15(Sb7-xSnx)Mon. 2/m : P21/m
1.AG.PalladothallitePd3TlTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
1.AG.DriekopitePtBiHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.SidoroviteFe3PtIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.Michitoshiite-(Cu)Rh(Cu1-xGex) Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.05Hexaferrum(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.05Garutiite(Ni,Fe,Ir)Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.10ZvyagintsevitePd3PbIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3n
1.AG.10Rustenburgite(Pt,Pd)3SnIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.10Atokite(Pd,Pt)3SnIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.15Taimyrite(Pd,Cu,Pt)3SnOrth.
1.AG.15Tatyanaite(Pt,Pd,Cu)9Cu3Sn4Orth.
1.AG.20PaolovitePd2SnOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
1.AG.25Stannopalladinite(Pd,Cu)3SnOrth.
1.AG.25PlumbopalladinitePd3Pb2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
1.AG.30CabriitePd2CuSnOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
1.AG.35IsoferroplatinumPt3FeIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.35ChengdeiteIr3FeIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.40TetraferroplatinumPtFeTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.40TulameenitePt2CuFeTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.40FerronickelplatinumPt2FeNiTet.
1.AG.45HongshiitePtCuTrig.
1.AG.50YixunitePt3InIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.55DamiaoitePtIn2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.60NiggliitePtSnHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.65BortnikovitePd4Cu3ZnTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.70NielsenitePdCu3Tet. 4mm : P4mm
1.AG.75Norilskite(Pd,Ag)2xPb (x = 0.08 - 0.11)Trig. 32 : P3121

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 SkaergaarditeHide

References for SkaergaarditeHide

Localities for SkaergaarditeHide

Showing 23 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
    • Thunder Bay District
      • Coldwell complex
McDonald et al. (2015)
      • Seeley Lake Area
Good et al. (2017)
EcoMetrix Reort for Stillwater Canada Inc (2012)
Cao (2017)
Finland
 
  • Lapland
    • Penikat complex
      • Sompujärvi Reef
Barkov et al. (1999)
Greece
 
12 (12) +1 other reference
  • Thessaly
    • Trikala
      • Meteora
Kapsiotis et al. (2010) +1 other reference
Greenland (TL)
 
  • Sermersooq
    • Kangerlussuaq Fjord
Mineralogical Magazine et al. (4) +1 other reference
Holwell et al. (2015) +1 other reference
India
 
  • Karnataka
    • Raichur District
Raju et al. (2022)
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Rumoi Subprefecture
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
      • Tomamae District
        • Haboro
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
Russia
 
  • Arkhangelsk Oblast
    • Franz Josef Land
Sklyarov et al. (2016) +1 other reference
Sklyarov et al. (2016)
  • Khabarovsk Krai
    • Ayano-Maysky district
Laflamme et al. (1997) +2 other references
Kasatkin et al. (2025)
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Fedorovo-Pansky massif (Pana layered complex)
      • Fedorova Tundra block
Groshev +6 other references
Groshev +7 other references
    • Monche tundra intrusion
Chashchin et al. (2018)
Grokhovskaya et al. (2009)
  • Sakha
    • Anabar River basin
Okrugin et al. (2023) +1 other reference
  • Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
    • Labytnangi
Murzin et al. (2022)
Tanzania
 
  • Kigoma Region
Wilhelmij et al. (2016)
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