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. Streak: silvery white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: granular.
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 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Silvery white
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- An oxidation product of palladium-bearing sulfides and as a primary phase in platinum deposits
Where rockhounds find native palladium
Classic worldwide localities
- Brazil (type locality), in Minas Gerais, from placers in the Bom Succeso Stream, northwest of Serro
- Itabira, as at the Cauê iron mine
- Placers in the Department of Chocó, Cauca, Colombia
- Placers in the Ural Mountains, Russia
- Lubin copper mine, near Legnica, Zechstein copper district, and in the weathered cover of the Szklary massif, Poland
- Transvaal, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An oxidation product of palladium-bearing sulfides and as a primary phase in platinum deposits. If you start seeing pt–fe alloys, pd–hg minerals, gold in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify native palladium?+
Where is native palladium found?+
What rocks look like native palladium?+
What minerals are found with native palladium?+
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What is native palladium used for?+
Find native palladium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
