Ruthenium Sesquisulphide, Ru₂S₃

Ruthenium Sesquisulphide, Ru₂S₃, occurs in the platinum washings of Borneo and Oregon as the rare mineral laurite, usually in the form of minute octahedra; hardness 7.5, density 6.99. It has a bright metallic lustre and contains a little osmium. Deville and Debray prepared a similar sulphide artificially in the form of isometric crystals, octahedra, and cubes by heating ruthenium with pyrites and borax.