Iridosmine - Encyclopedia
Class : Elements
Subclass : Metals
Crystal system : Hexagonal
Chemistry : Os,Ir
Rarity : Rare
Iridosmine (or iridosmium) is a natural alloy of osmium (approximately 56%) and iridium (approximately 43%). It belongs to the group of platinum minerals of which it has an extreme density (around 20) and a tin-white color with a bluish tint. Like other platinum minerals, iridosmine is present in iron-nickel sulfide horizons of certain mafic stratified complexes, but has mainly been recovered in platinum-bearing sands. Its name was given to it in reference to its chemical composition. It occurs in sub-rounded to tumbled grains, rarely in flattened hexagonal lamellar crystals. It is an ore of osmium and iridium.
Main photo : Iridosmine from the Neiva River alluvium, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia © Yuan Xue - SEM image
Iridosmine in the World
Twinning
No twin known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 6 to 7
Density : 22.5
Fracture : Undeterminated
Streak : Gray
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Insoluble
Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None