Topics CoveredIntroduction to AtheneiteProperties of AtheneiteHow to Identify AtheneiteGlobal DistributionOccurrence of Atheneite and Useful Mineral AssociationReferencesIntroduction to AtheneiteChemical Formula – (Pd,Hg)3AsAtheneite is a rare palladium, mercury arsenide mineral first discovered in 1974 by E.E. Fejer, .J. Criddle and A.M. Clark from the Minas Gerais mine Single-stage Hammer Crusher in Itabira, Brazil. It was named for the Greek goddess Pallas Athene, in allusion to its palladium content.Properties of AtheneiteThe following are the key properties of Atheneite:Cell DataSpace Group: P6/mmma = 6.798c = 3.483Z = 2Crystal DataHexagonalPoint Group: 6/m 2/m 2/mAs tiny blebs; crystal outlines seldom displayed, grain boundaries being commonly embayedX-ray Powder Pattern: 2.423 (vvs), 2.246 (vs), 1.371 (s), 1.302 (s), 1.259 (s), 1.871 (ms), 1.034 (ms)Chemical CompositionElementsContent 1Content 2Pd66.067.15Pt-1.96Hg14.913.79Au0.50.47Fe-0.08Cu0.1<0.07As1917.48Sb0.1-Total100.6100.93Optical PropertiesAnisotropism: DistinctEstimated PropertiesElectron densityBulk density (electron density)=9.36 g/cm3note: Specific gravity of Atheneite =11.1 g/cm3PhotoelectricPEAtheneite = 681.59 barns/electronU= PEAtheneite x ρElectron density= 6379.56 barns/cm3Fermion indexFermion index = 0.21Boson index = 0.79RadioactivityAtheneite Overflow type ball mill is not radioactiveHow to Identify AtheneiteAtheneite is an opaque gray white mineral with a metallic luster. The mineral has density of 10.2 and hardness of 5.Global DistributionAtheneite is distributed in the following places:Itabira [TL], and in the Cau?e and Concei?c?ao iron mines, Minas Gerais, BrazilSerra Pelada Au–Pd–Pt deposit, Para, BrazilMerensky Reef, Bushveldt complex, Transvaal, South AfricaZlatoust, Ural Mountains, RussiaOccurrence of Atheneite and Useful Mineral AssociationAtheneite occurs in concentrates Coal slurry mill from gold washings. Hematite, isomertieite, palladseite and arsenopalladinite are closely associated with atheneite.ReferencesAtheneite – MindatAtheneite Mineral Data – WebmineralAtheneite.pdf - Rruff Project Website - University of Arizona Date Added: Feb 22, 2013 | Updated: Jun 11, 2013