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Atheneite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Atheneite (5)Discuss Atheneite

Atheneite Gallery Search Photos of Atheneite

Edit Atheneite Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

Atheneite, etc.

Cauê mine, Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

Atheneite, etc.

Cauê mine, Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

Atheneite, etc.

Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia

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About AtheneiteHide

Athena

Formula:

Pd₂As_0.75Hg_0.25

Colour:

Grey

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

10.2

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Name:

For the Greek goddess Pallas Athena, in allusion to its palladium content.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The As analogue of UM1974-24-Te:Pd and (the possibly identical to the latter) UM1991-26-Te:AsPd.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

409

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:409:3

Classification of AtheneiteHide

Sellaite

Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

IMA Classification of AtheneiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Pd₂(As_0.75Hg_0.25)

Approval year:

1973

First published:

1974

Type description reference:

Clark, A. M., Criddle, A. J., Fejer, E. E. (1974) Palladium arsenide-antimonides from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine, 39 (305). 528-543 doi:10.1180/minmag.1974.039.305.05

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.AC.05a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
C : Alloys of metalloids with PGE

Dana 8th ed.:

2.2.4.1

2 : SULFIDES
2 : A_mB_nX_p, with (m+n):p = 3:1

Hey's CIM Ref.:

3.12.26

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
12 : Sulphides etc. of the platinum metals

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference for Standard
Ah	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of AtheneiteHide

Pronunciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon Ralph	United Kingdom

Physical Properties of AtheneiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Grey

Hardness:

5 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=419 - 442 kg/mm² - Vickers

Density:

10.2 g/cm³ (Measured) 10.16 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of AtheneiteHide

Anisotropism:

Distinct

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
400nm	46.1%	48.3%
420nm	47.4%	49.8%
440nm	48.5%	50.9%
460nm	49.7%	52.4%
480nm	50.8%	53.6%
500nm	51.9%	54.8%
520nm	53.0%	55.8%
540nm	54.0%	56.7%
560nm	54.8%	57.3%
580nm	55.7%	57.8%
600nm	56.4%	58.3%
620nm	57.0%	58.5%
640nm	57.4%	58.6%
660nm	57.6%	58.7%
680nm	57.9%	59.0%
700nm	58.2%	59.1%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 59.1%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

White with a bluish tint

Pleochroism:

Weak

Comments:

Pale yellow-white to bluish gray-white

Chemistry of AtheneiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Pd₂As_0.75Hg_0.25

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Pd	66.684 %
As	17.605 %
Hg	15.711 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

As, Hg, Pd - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Au,Cu,Sb

Crystallography of AtheneiteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

P62m

Setting:

P6₂m

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.813 Å, c = 3.4892 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.512

Unit Cell V:

140.26 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Blebs

Comment:

The refinement of an anisotropic model led to an R index of 7.26% for 261 independent reflections

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0017797	Atheneite	Bindi L (2010) Atheneite, [Pd2][As0.75Hg0.25], from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula The Canadian Mineralogist 48 1149-1155		2010	Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Atheneite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Bindi L'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 48 
_journal_year 2010
_journal_page_first 1149
_journal_page_last 1155
_publ_section_title
;
 Atheneite, [Pd2][As0.75Hg0.25], from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil:
 Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula
;
_database_code_amcsd 0017797
_chemical_compound_source 'Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Pd6 As2.196 Hg.804'
_cell_length_a 6.813
_cell_length_b 6.813
_cell_length_c 3.4892
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 140.260
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn     11.417
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P -6 2 m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,z'
  '-x+y,-x,-z'
  'y,x,-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,z'
  'x,y,-z'
  '-x,-x+y,-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,z'
  '-y,x-y,-z'
  'x-y,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Pd1   0.74240   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000   0.02030
Pd2   0.39840   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000   0.02800
As1   0.00000   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000   0.01800
As2   0.33333   0.66667   0.00000   0.59800   0.02900
Hg2   0.33333   0.66667   0.00000   0.40200   0.02900
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Pd1 0.01260 0.02000 0.03100 0.00990 0.00000 0.00000
Pd2 0.02200 0.05800 0.01600 0.02900 0.00000 0.00000
As1 0.02200 0.02200 0.01100 0.01080 0.00000 0.00000
As2 0.00660 0.00660 0.07300 0.00330 0.00000 0.00000
Hg2 0.00660 0.00660 0.07300 0.00330 0.00000 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.423 Å	(vvs)
2.246 Å	(vs)
1.871 Å	(ms)
1.371 Å	(s)
1.302 Å	(s)
1.259 Å	(s)
1.034 Å	(ms)

Comments:

Itabira, Brazil (ICDD 26-889). Abbreviations: m = medium, s = strong, v = very.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of AtheneiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1934,72, 1977,259; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 142504.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Placer

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Clark, A. M., Criddle, A. J., Fejer, E. E. (1974) Palladium arsenide-antimonides from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine, 39 (305). 528-543 doi:10.1180/minmag.1974.039.305.05

Synonyms of AtheneiteHide

IMA1973-050

Other Language Names for AtheneiteHide

Dutch:Atheneiet

French:Athénéite

German:Atheneit

Norwegian:Atheneitt

Simplified Chinese:砷汞钯矿

Spanish:Atheneita

Traditional Chinese:砷汞鈀礦

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

5 photos of Atheneite associated with Native Gold	Au
5 photos of Atheneite associated with Hematite	Fe₂O₃
4 photos of Atheneite associated with 'Fuchsite'	K(Al,Cr)₃Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂
1 photo of Atheneite associated with Arsenopalladinite	Pd₈(As,Sb)₃
1 photo of Atheneite associated with Jacutingaite	Pt₂HgSe₃

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.AC.	Vadlazarenkovite	Pd₈Bi_1.5Te_1.25As_0.25	Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.AC.	Törnroosite	Pd₁₁As₂Te₂	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.05b	Vincentite	Pd₃As	Mon.
2.AC.10c	Arsenopalladinite	Pd₈(As,Sb)₃	Tric. 1 : P1
2.AC.10b	Mertieite	Pd₈Sb_2.5As_0.5	Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.AC.10a	Stillwaterite	Pd₈As₃	Trig.
2.AC.15a	Isomertieite	Pd₁₁Sb₂As₂	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.15a	Miessiite	Pd₁₁Te₂Se₂	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AC.15b	Pseudomertieite	Pd₁₁(Sb,As)₄	Hex.
2.AC.20c	Menshikovite	Pd₃Ni₂As₃	Hex. 6/m : P6₃/m
2.AC.20a	Stibiopalladinite	Pd₅Sb₂	Hex.
2.AC.20b	Palarstanide	Pd₅(Sn,As)₂	Hex.
2.AC.25c	Palladodymite	(Pd,Rh)₂As	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.AC.25d	Naldrettite	Pd₂Sb	Orth. mm2 : Cmc2₁
2.AC.25b	Rhodarsenide	(Rh,Pd)₂As	Orth.
2.AC.25e	Majakite	PdNiAs	Hex.
2.AC.25a	Palladoarsenide	Pd₂As	Mon. 2/m : P2/m
2.AC.25f	Palladobismutharsenide	Pd₂(As,Bi)	Orth.
2.AC.30	'UM1999-02-As:NiRh'	(Rh,Ni)₇As₄
2.AC.30	Polkanovite	Rh₁₂As₇	Hex. 6/m : P6₃/m
2.AC.35b	Ungavaite	Pd₄Sb₃	Tet. 422 : P4₁2₁2
2.AC.35a	Genkinite	Pt₄Sb₃	Tet. 422
2.AC.40	Polarite	Pd(Bi,Pb)	Orth. mm2 : Cmc2₁
2.AC.45a	Froodite	α-PdBi₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.AC.50	Viteite	Pd₅InAs	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
2.AC.50	Nipalarsite	Ni₈Pd₃As₄	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)

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 AtheneiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-409.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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Look for Atheneite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Atheneite on Webmineral

Look for Atheneite on Wikipedia

Look for Atheneite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for AtheneiteHide

Reference List:

Clark, A. M., Criddle, A. J., Fejer, E. E. (1974) Palladium arsenide-antimonides from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine, 39 (305). 528-543 doi:10.1180/minmag.1974.039.305.05

Fleischer, Michael (1974) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 59 (11-12). 1330-1332

Clark, A. M., Criddle, A. J., Fejer, E. E. (1974) Palladium arsenide-antimonides from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine, 39 (305). 528-543 doi:10.1180/minmag.1974.039.305.05

Cabral, A. R., Lehmann, B., Kwitko-Ribeiro, R., Costa, C. H. C. (2002) Palladium and platinum minerals from the Serra Pelada Au-Pd-Pt deposit, Carajas mineral province, northern Brazil. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40 (5) 1451-1463 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.40.5.1451

(2005) Atheneite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Bindi, L. (2010) Atheneite, [Pd₂][As_0.75Hg_0.25], from Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil: crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula. The Canadian Mineralogist, 48 (5) 1149-1155 doi:10.3749/canmin.48.5.1149

Localities for AtheneiteHide

Showing 25 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.


Australia
Western Australia City of Karratha Karratha ⓘ Munni Munni Complex	HOATSON et al. (1992) +1 other reference

Brazil
Minas Gerais ⓘ Conceição do Mato Dentro	Mineralogical Society of America - ...
ⓘ Itabira (TL)	Clark et al. (1974) +1 other reference
ⓘ Cauê mine	Kwitko et al. (2002)
Pará Curionópolis ⓘ Serra Pelada claims	NetunoVillas et al. (2001) +2 other references

Canada
Ontario Kenora District Ring of Fire BMA527861 Area ⓘ Black Label deposit	Musa Karkus (2010)

Pakistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Upper Kohistan District ⓘ Jijal complex	Miller et al. (1991)

Russia
Buryatia Severo-Baykalsky District Dovyren Highlands ⓘ Yoko-Dovyrensky Massif	Rudashevskiy N.S. et al. (2003)
Chelyabinsk Oblast ⓘ Zlatoust	Mineralogical Society of America - ...
Komi Republic Kozhim River Basin Maldynyrd range (Maldy-nyrd range) ⓘ Chudnoe Pd-Au deposit	Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) +1 other reference
ⓘ Nesterovskoe deposit	Moralev et al. (2005)
Murmansk Oblast Fedorovo-Pansky massif (Pana layered complex) ⓘ Fedorova Tundra block	Groshev +6 other references
ⓘ North Kamennik deposit	Ivanov et al. (2020, July)
Monche tundra intrusion ⓘ Loypishnyun deposit	Chashchin et al. (2018)
Monchegorsk ⓘ Vuruchuaivench prospect	Grokhovskaya et al. (2000)
Yuzhnosopchinsky massif ⓘ Yuzhnosopchinsky-1	Y.A. et al. (2019)
ⓘ Pechengsky District	Chashchin et al. (2013)
ⓘ Volchetundra massif	Chashchin et al. (2013)
Sverdlovsk Oblast Kachkanar Kachkanar Complex Kachkanarskoe ⓘ Western pit	Stepanov et al. (2023)
ⓘ Syum-Keu Ophiolite Massif	Gurskaya (2002)
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Labytnangi ⓘ Ozernoe Occurrence	Murzin et al. (2022)

South Africa
Limpopo Capricorn District Municipality Blouberg Local Municipality Waterberg project ⓘ F-Zone	McCreesh et al. (2018)
Sekhukhune District Municipality Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality ⓘ Maandagshoek Farm	Melcher et al. (2005)
North West Bojanala Platinum District Municipality ⓘ Merensky Reef	Mineralogical Society of America - ...

Zimbabwe
Masvingo Chiredzi District Chiredzi mining district ⓘ Makwiro River	Oberthür et al. (2003) +1 other reference

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Atheneite

About AtheneiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

Classification of AtheneiteHide

IMA Classification of AtheneiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Pronunciation of AtheneiteHide

Physical Properties of AtheneiteHide

Optical Data of AtheneiteHide

Chemistry of AtheneiteHide

Crystallography of AtheneiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of AtheneiteHide

Synonyms of AtheneiteHide

Other Language Names for AtheneiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for AtheneiteHide

References for AtheneiteHide

Localities for AtheneiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide