mineral
Iridium sand or Osmium-Iridium nugget
Iridosmine / Osmiridium (Platinoid grouping)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Steel-gray to tin-white; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Specific Gravity: 18-21 (extremely heavy for its size).
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Steel-gray to tin-white
- Luster
- Metallic
Identified More mineral →
Explore Iridium sand or Osmium-Iridium nugget in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Steel-gray to tin-white; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Specific Gravity: 18-21 (extremely heavy for its size).
Formation & geological history
Formed in ultramafic igneous rocks as primary minerals or more commonly found in secondary alluvial (placer) deposits alongside gold and platinum due to extreme weather resistance.
Uses & applications
Used in high-strength alloys, electrical contacts, fountain pen nib tips, and specialized bearings. Primarily a source for iridium and osmium, two of the rarest elements on Earth.
Geological facts
Iridium is considered one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust; its concentration in certain geological layers (the K-Pg boundary) is used as evidence for the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its incredible density/weight compared to size and its resistance to all common acids. It will not dissolve in aqua regia, unlike gold.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous