Pašavaite

Chemical formula: Pd₃Pb₂Te₂

Pašavaite is an extremely rare palladium and lead telluride, found exclusively as microscopic grains in the Czech Sudetes.

## Characteristics Pašavaite is a telluride mineral, occurring as anhedral (irregular) grains not exceeding 0.2 mm in size. It is opaque, gray in color, and has a metallic luster. It is typically embedded in a quartz matrix, and its identification is only possible using advanced analytical techniques. ## Physical Properties The mineral is characterized by a metallic luster and is opaque. Its density, calculated based on its chemical composition and unit cell parameters, is 10.11 g/cm³. Hardness has not been determined. ## Colors and Varieties Pašavaite is a monocolor mineral, occurring exclusively in shades of gray. It does not form colored or commercial varieties. ## History and Name The mineral's name comes from its discovery locality – the Pašava adit near the village of Ostružná in the Kašperské Hory region of the Czech Republic. It was described and approved as a new mineral species in 2002 by a team of Czech mineralogists: S. Vrána, P. Ondruš, J. Litochleb, and others. ## Applications Due to its extreme rarity and occurrence only as microscopic grains, pašavaite has no industrial applications. It is solely an object of scientific and collecting interest for specialized micromineral collectors.

Properties

Luster: Metallic
Streak: Black
Density: 10.11
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Orthorhombic

Diagnostic features

## Identification Amateur identification of pašavaite is impossible. The mineral is visually indistinguishable from many other co-occurring sulfides and tellurides. Definitive identification requires specialized equipment, such as an electron microscope with an EDS/WDS analyzer, to determine the precise chemical composition. ## Distinguishing from Similar Minerals Pašavaite can be confused with other gray, metallic minerals found in the same association, such as kotulskite, merenskyite, clausthalite, altaite, or galena. The only method to distinguish them is chemical analysis using a microprobe. ## Crystal Forms This mineral does not form well-developed crystals. It occurs exclusively as irregular, anhedral grains embedded in other minerals, mainly quartz.

Geological environment

## Genesis Pašavaite forms under hydrothermal conditions, in quartz veins rich in precious metals, tellurium, and selenium. ## Mineral Associations This mineral co-occurs with a rich assemblage of other tellurides, selenides, and sulfides. It is most commonly associated with kotulskite, merenskyite, isomertieite, sobolevskite, vysotskite, clausthalite, native gold, hessite, stützite, altaite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite. ## Localities The only confirmed locality for pašavaite worldwide is its type locality – the Pašava adit, Ostružná, Kašperské Hory in the Czech Republic.

Rarity

Extremely rare

For collectors

## Quality Criteria For such a rare micromineral, the only criterion for evaluation is the certainty of its identification on the specimen. An additional advantage may be the grain size (although it will always be microscopic) and the abundance of associated minerals on the same sample. The aesthetics of the specimen are of secondary importance. ## Popular Localities The only source of specimens is the type locality in the Czech Republic. Material from this location is extremely difficult to acquire and represents a rarity in specialized collections.

Care and storage

## Cleaning Specimens containing pašavaite, due to the microscopic size of the grains, should not be cleaned mechanically or chemically. Any attempt at cleaning risks irreversible loss of the mineral. The specimen should be protected from dust. ## What to Avoid Avoid contact with any chemicals, especially acids and oxidizing agents, which can react with tellurides. Also avoid ultrasound and sudden temperature changes. ## Storage Specimens should be stored under stable conditions, preferably in a sealed "micromount" box, which protects against dust, moisture, and mechanical damage.

Sources

IMA Mineral List (CNMNC)