Native Palladium is an extremely rare platinum-group mineral that typically occurs as small grains or nuggets in alluvial deposits derived from ultramafic complexes. Collectors often find it as an inclusion in gold or platinum, as it rarely forms distinct macroscopic crystals. It is highly valued for its rarity and its role as a primary source for the precious metal.
Is this native palladium?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch native palladium with a known reference. Native Palladium sits at Mohs 4.5-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Palladium leaves a silvery white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Palladium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silvery white, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: grains, nuggets, irregular masses, or rarely cubic crystals.
Often confused with
Native Palladium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native palladium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native palladium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pd
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 11.9-12.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Silvery White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Grains, Nuggets, Irregular Masses, Or Rarely Cubic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Rocks, Alluvial Placers
- Typical price
- $50-500 per gram depending on size and provenance
Where rockhounds find native palladium
Classic worldwide localities
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Ural Mountains, Russia
- Bushveld Complex, South Africa
- Stillwater Complex, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic rocks, alluvial placers country — that is the host setting where native palladium typically forms. If you start seeing platinum, gold, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a grains, nuggets, irregular masses, or rarely cubic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify native palladium?+
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Find native palladium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
