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Where to Find Platinum in Nevada

Platinum-group minerals are uncommon in Nevada compared to Montana's Stillwater complex, but trace platinum and palladium do occur with the chromite and copper-nickel ore bodies of several ranges. The Bottle Creek mine in Humboldt County produced minor platinum with nickel ore in the 1940s, and the Mount Tobin mining district in Pershing County has scattered chromite occurrences that carry trace PGMs. Most Nevada platinum collected today is microscopic and recovered as fines from gold placer concentrates, particularly in the Rye Patch and Humboldt River drainages. Visible platinum specimens are rare, and most claimed Nevada platinum needs assay verification rather than visual identification.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

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Every platinum spot we track in Nevada

Best counties for platinum in Nevada

Ranked by the number of mapped platinum spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Before you go

Read the platinum identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Platinum in the encyclopedia.

Platinum in Nevada FAQ

Where can you find platinum in Nevada?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Humboldt County, Douglas County, and Elko County. Known collecting areas include Bottle Creek area (Humboldt County), Mount Tobin district (Pershing County), and Humboldt River placer concentrates (Humboldt County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many platinum spots are mapped in Nevada?+
17 spots across 10 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect platinum in Nevada?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 14 of the 17 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

More minerals to hunt in Nevada

Hunt platinum in Nevada with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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