Laflammeite is an extremely rare platinum group mineral primarily found as minute grains within ultramafic igneous complexes. It is a lead-platinum sulfide that requires microscopic analysis for positive identification due to its microscopic size and appearance similar to other platinum minerals.
Is this laflammeite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch laflammeite with a known reference. Laflammeite sits at Mohs ~3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: dark gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish cream.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy, subhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Laflammeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside laflammeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with laflammeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd₃Pb₂S₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~3.5
- Density
- 9.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- Brownish cream
- Streak
- Dark gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy, subhedral crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a platinum-group-element deposit in a layered ultramafic intrusive complex, formed under relatively high-Pb, low-S conditions
Where rockhounds find laflammeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kirakkajuppura deposit, Penikat layered complex, northeast of Kemi, Finland (type locality)
- Fedorova-Pana layered complex, Kola Peninsula, and the Noril’sk deposit, Siberia, Russia
- Marathon Cu-PGE-Au deposit, Coldwell Complex, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a platinum-group-element deposit in a layered ultramafic intrusive complex, formed under relatively high-Pb, low-S conditions. If you start seeing vysotskite, zvyagintsevite, cuprorhodsite-malanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, subhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify laflammeite?+
Where is laflammeite found?+
Is laflammeite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like laflammeite?+
What minerals are found with laflammeite?+
What kind of rock does laflammeite form in?+
What is laflammeite used for?+
Find laflammeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
