Shandite
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.mindat.org/user-10.html">Ralph Bottrill</a> (CC BY 3.0)
Mineral NameShandite
Chemical FormulaNi₃Pb₂S₂
Mohs Hardness2.5
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorblack
Cleavagenone
Fracturenot reported
Specific Gravity7.06
Colorsbronze-yellow, yellowish-white
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityNickel Reward Mine, Trial Harbour district, West Coast municipality, Tasmania, Australia
Mineral GroupSulfides
Usescollector, scientific_interest
Associated Mineralsheazlewoodite, sphalerite
Rarityvery-rare
Description
This microscopic image displays an assemblage of metallic minerals. The dominant phase appears as bronze-yellow to yellowish-white metallic grains, characteristic of Shandite and Heazlewoodite, intergrown with darker greyish areas likely representing Sphalerite.
Geological Context
Shandite is a very rare nickel-lead sulfide typically found in serpentinized ultramafic rocks or nickel sulfide deposits, forming under specific hydrothermal conditions.
