Palladinite is a rare palladium oxide mineral that typically occurs as soft, earthy, or powdery coatings on gold or platinum-bearing rocks. It is most frequently found in the weathered oxidation zones of platinum-group metal deposits, where it forms through the alteration of primary palladium minerals.
Is this palladinite?
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 palladinite with a known reference. Palladinite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Palladinite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Palladinite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: earthy coatings, pulverulent masses.
Often confused with
Palladinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Limonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Palladinite leaves yellow, Limonite leaves yellowish-brown; luster reads dull on Palladinite and submetallic to earthy on Limonite.
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Palladinite leaves yellow, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads dull on Palladinite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside palladinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with palladinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PdO
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Earthy Coatings, Pulverulent Masses
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Weathered Precious Metal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find palladinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Ural Mountains, Russia
- Atacama Region, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in weathered precious metal deposits country — that is the host setting where palladinite typically forms. If you start seeing gold, hematite, platinum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a earthy coatings, pulverulent masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find palladinite on the map
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