Carducciite is a rare silver-antimony-lead sulfosalt primarily known from the Pollone mine in Tuscany. It typically appears as metallic, lead-gray massive intergrowths within hydrothermal vein systems and is difficult to distinguish from other associated lead-sulfosalts without geochemical analysis.
Is this carducciite?
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 carducciite with a known reference. Carducciite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Carducciite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Carducciite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Carducciite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Carducciite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Carducciite leaves black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Carducciite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
Often found alongside carducciite
Minerals reported to co-occur with carducciite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ag,Cu)SbPb₂S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.0-6.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Epithermal Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find carducciite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tuscany, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where carducciite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, stibnite, realgar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find carducciite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
