Native Ruthenium is an extremely rare metallic element that typically occurs as tiny, rounded grains within platinum-group metal placers. It is chemically inert and is usually identified via advanced analytical techniques like electron microprobe analysis rather than visual inspection. Collectors prize it for its extreme rarity as a native element.
Is this native ruthenium?
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 ruthenium with a known reference. Native Ruthenium sits at Mohs 6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: 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: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular.
Often confused with
Native Ruthenium vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native ruthenium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native ruthenium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ru
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 12.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In a platinum grain (Uryu River, Japan)
Where rockhounds find native ruthenium
Classic worldwide localities
- Yuba River, Nevada Co., California, USA
- Tennessee Pass, Josephine Co, Oregon, USA
- Gravels of the Uryu River, near Horokanai, Hokkaido, Japan (type locality)
- Nizhni Tagil, Ural Mountains, and in a placer on the Upper Miass River, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
- Waiau River, western Southland, New Zealand
- Kraubath ultramafic massif, Styria, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a platinum grain (Uryu River, Japan). If you start seeing platinum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify native ruthenium?+
Where is native ruthenium found?+
What rocks look like native ruthenium?+
What minerals are found with native ruthenium?+
What kind of rock does native ruthenium form in?+
What is native ruthenium used for?+
Find native ruthenium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
