Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Azurite vs. Smithsonite
It's carbonate-vs-carbonate to kick off Mineral Cup 2026 with copper-rich Azurite against zinc-rich Smithsonite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Orthocuproplatinum

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Formula:
Pt3Cu
Colour:
Greyish white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
17.866 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for its chemical composition and for being in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Known synthetic analogue. Compare 'Unnamed (Pt-Cu Alloy)'.


Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
53364
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53364:7

IMA Classification of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Classification of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
1.AH.

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
H : Miscellaneous Elements, alloys

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
OcptIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Greyish white
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100= 243 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Malleable
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
None observed
Fracture:
None observed
Density:
17.866 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Anisotropism:
Slightly perceptible, nearly isotropic
Bireflectance:
Not visible
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
400nm53.0%
420nm54.5%
440nm56.1%
460nm57.7%
470nm58.4%
480nm59.1%
500nm60.5%
520nm61.7%
540nm62.6%
546nm62.9%
560nm63.7%
580nm64.5%
589nm65.0%
600nm65.4%
620nm66.2%
640nm66.9%
650nm67.3%
660nm67.6%
680nm68.1%
700nm68.6%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 68.6%.
Colour in reflected light:
A whitish colour
Internal Reflections:
None observed
Pleochroism:
Not Visible

Chemistry of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Mindat Formula:
Pt3Cu
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Pt90.206 %
Cu9.794 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Cu, Pt - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmmm
Setting:
Cmmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.681(1) Å, b = 5.4318(8) Å, c = 2.7502(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.414 : 1 : 0.506
Unit Cell V:
114.74 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Grain.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals

Type Occurrence of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Lubero Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo
General Appearance of Type Material:
A 1.5-mm-long alluvial grain with a rim of hongshiite and inclusions of calcite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collection of “Geosammlung”, Technische Universität Clausthal, Adolph-Roemer-Strasse 2A, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany, catalogue number 11331
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
Pt2.76Cu1.24
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
Cu12.9 %
Pt87.3 %
Total:100.2 %
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a heavy-mineral concentrate.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
CalciteHongshiiteKitagohaite
Reference:
Cabral, Alexandre R., Skála, Roman, Vymazalová, Anna, Maixner, Jaroslav, Stanley, Chris J., Lehmann, Bernd, Jedwab, Jacques (2019) Orthocuproplatinum, Pt3Cu, a new mineral from the Lubero region, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mineralogy and Petrology, 113 (4) 527-532 doi:10.1007/s00710-019-00663-1

Synonyms of OrthocuproplatinumHide

Other Language Names for OrthocuproplatinumHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

1.AH.DecagoniteAl71Ni24Fe5Icos.
1.AH.WangxibiniteTiFeIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AH.TomamaeiteCu3PtIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AH.BarkoviteNi1.5SnHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AH.MitrofanovitePt3Te4Trig. 3m : R3m
1.AH.10'Native Cerium'Ce
1.AH.15'Native Tantalum'TaIso.

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 OrthocuproplatinumHide

References for OrthocuproplatinumHide

Localities for OrthocuproplatinumHide

Showing 5 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.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

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.
DR Congo (TL)
 
  • North Kivu
European Journal of Mineralogy +2 other references
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Rumoi Subprefecture
      • Tomamae District
        • Haboro
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
    • Sorachi Subprefecture
      • Numata
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
Russia
 
  • Buryatia
    • Severo-Baykalsky District
      • Dovyren Highlands
Spiridonov (2020, September)
Quick NavTopUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 1, 2026 07:00:22 Page updated: August 19, 2026 08:55:22
Go to top of page