Native Rhodium is an exceptionally rare member of the platinum group metals, almost always found as minute, silver-white grains or nuggets in placer deposits. Because it is highly resistant to corrosion and does not tarnish, it retains a brilliant metallic luster even after long periods of exposure in stream beds. Collectors usually seek it in micro-mounts or as an extremely rare component in platiniferous ore samples.
Is this native rhodium?
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 rhodium with a known reference. Native Rhodium sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: silver-white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: grains, small nuggets, rarely cubic crystals.
Often confused with
Native Rhodium vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native rhodium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native rhodium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Rh
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 16.51 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Silver-white
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Grains, small nuggets, rarely cubic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A single grain was found in heavy mineral concentrates (Stillwater complex, Montana, USA)
Where rockhounds find native rhodium
Classic worldwide localities
- Stillwater complex, Montana (type locality), and at Fox Gulch, Goodnews Bay, Alaska, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A single grain was found in heavy mineral concentrates (Stillwater complex, Montana, USA). If you start seeing platinum, pt–fe alloy, gold in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: grains, small nuggets, rarely cubic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native rhodium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
