Rutheniridosmine is a rare native metal alloy primarily found as small, durable grains in placer deposits derived from ultramafic rocks. Collectors typically seek out its characteristic silvery-white metallic luster and heavy weight, which is significantly denser than most common minerals.
Is this rutheniridosmine?
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 rutheniridosmine with a known reference. Rutheniridosmine sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Rutheniridosmine leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rutheniridosmine typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver-white, light steel-gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: small flattened hexagonal grains, scales, or nuggets.
Often confused with
Rutheniridosmine vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rutheniridosmine is noticeably harder (Mohs 6-7 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Rutheniridosmine leaves gray, Platinum leaves steel-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Rutheniridosmine leaves gray, Sperrylite leaves black.
Often found alongside rutheniridosmine
Minerals reported to co-occur with rutheniridosmine. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Os,Ir,Ru)
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 19.0-21.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Small Flattened Hexagonal Grains, Scales, Or Nuggets
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Igneous Rocks, Placer Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen depending on size and provenance
Where rockhounds find rutheniridosmine
Classic worldwide localities
- Bushveld Complex, South Africa
- Ural Mountains, Russia
- Goodnews Bay, Alaska
- Tasmania, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic igneous rocks, placer deposits country, the host setting where rutheniridosmine typically forms. If you start seeing platinum, chromite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a small flattened hexagonal grains, scales, or nuggets habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify rutheniridosmine?+
Where is rutheniridosmine found?+
How much is rutheniridosmine worth?+
What rocks look like rutheniridosmine?+
What minerals are found with rutheniridosmine?+
What kind of rock does rutheniridosmine form in?+
What is rutheniridosmine used for?+
Find rutheniridosmine on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
