Thalhammerite is an extremely rare palladium-silver telluride mineral. It typically occurs as microscopic grains within massive sulfide ore deposits, making it a target for specialized mineral collectors focused on PGM species.

Hardness

3.5

Mohs

Luster

Metallic

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrare

Thalhammerite

Hardness: 3.5
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque

No image

Is this thalhammerite?

3-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch thalhammerite with a known reference. Thalhammerite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
3
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: grains.

Often confused with

Thalhammerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Telluropalladinite

Mohs 5

How to tell apart: Telluropalladinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5).

Often found alongside thalhammerite

Minerals reported to co-occur with thalhammerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Pd₉Ag₂Bi₂S₄
Mohs hardness: 3.5
Density: 9.72 g/cm³
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Tetragonal
Crystal habit: Grains
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In vein-disseminated galena-pyrite-chalcopyrite and millerite-bornite-chalcopyrite deposits hosted by diopside-hydrogrossular metasomatites developed in diopside-monticellite skarns (Komsomolsky mine)

Where rockhounds find thalhammerite

Classic worldwide localities

Komsomolsky mine, Talnakh and Oktyabrsk deposits, Noril’sk region, and the Fedorov-Pana layered intrusive, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In vein-disseminated galena-pyrite-chalcopyrite and millerite-bornite-chalcopyrite deposits hosted by diopside-hydrogrossular metasomatites developed in diopside-monticellite skarns (Komsomolsky mine). If you start seeing braggite, vysotskite, stibiopalladinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify thalhammerite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5. Luster: metallic.

Where is thalhammerite found?+

Notable localities include Komsomolsky mine, Talnakh and Oktyabrsk deposits, Noril’sk region, and the Fedorov-Pana layered intrusive, Russia.

Is thalhammerite safe to handle?+

Contains bismuth, which is toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust. Wash hands thoroughly after handling and avoid creating dust.

What rocks look like thalhammerite?+

Thalhammerite is most often confused with Telluropalladinite, Kotulskite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with thalhammerite?+

Thalhammerite commonly co-occurs with Braggite, Vysotskite, Stibiopalladinite, Telargpalite, Sobolevskite, Kotulskite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does thalhammerite form in?+

Where it forms: In vein-disseminated galena-pyrite-chalcopyrite and millerite-bornite-chalcopyrite deposits hosted by diopside-hydrogrossular metasomatites developed in diopside-monticellite skarns (Komsomolsky mine). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is thalhammerite used for?+

Thalhammerite is used in collector.

Find thalhammerite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.