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, so Carducciite leaves black, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Carducciite leaves black, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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.
