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Palladium

Primary Applications

Catalytic converters, electronics, chemical catalysts, hydrogen purification, jewelry

Mining Significance

Palladium is a platinum-group metal commonly produced from PGE-bearing magmatic sulfide deposits and as a coproduct of nickel-copper mining. It may be hosted in discrete PGM minerals or associated with sulfide phases such as pentlandite and pyrrhotite. Because ore grades are typically low, efficient flotation concentration followed by complex smelting, leaching, and refining circuits is critical to economic recovery.

Industries

None listed
46
Pd
Palladium
106.42

Key Properties

  • Silvery-white noble metal with strong resistance to corrosion.
  • Excellent catalyst, particularly for hydrogenation and automotive emissions control.
  • Absorbs substantial quantities of hydrogen under suitable conditions.
  • Lower density and melting point than platinum.
  • Ductile and readily fabricated for specialized industrial uses.

Mining Targets

This element is often found in the following Deposit Types and Mineral targets.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Pentlandite - (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ - Pentlandite is part of the principal sulfide assemblage concentrated during processing; palladium may occur within major sulfides and/or in discrete PGE minerals.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Chalcopyrite - CuFeS₂ - Chalcopyrite is part of the principal sulfide assemblage concentrated during processing; palladium may occur within major sulfides and/or in discrete PGE minerals.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.

Mineral: Pyrrhotite - Fe₁₋ₓS - Pyrrhotite is part of the principal sulfide assemblage concentrated during processing; palladium may occur within major sulfides and/or in discrete PGE minerals.