Dadsonite is a rare sulfosalt mineral characterized by its delicate, lead-gray acicular or fibrous crystals. It is best identified through its distinct morphology in hydrothermal vein deposits where it typically grows alongside other lead and antimony-rich sulfides.
Is this dadsonite?
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 dadsonite with a known reference. Dadsonite 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. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead gray, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous.
Often confused with
Dadsonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dadsonite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dadsonite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dadsonite leaves black, Plagionite leaves blackish lead-gray, deep red-brown.
Often found alongside dadsonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dadsonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂₃Sb₂₅S₆₀Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect in one direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins with other sulfides and lead sulfosalt minerals
Where rockhounds find dadsonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Red Bird mercury mine, Rye Patch district, Pershing Co., Nevada (type locality), USA
- Brock zone of the Giant property, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (type locality), Canada
- Madoc, Ontario (type locality), Canada
- Harz Mountains, from Wolfsberg (type locality), St. Andreasberg, and Harzburg, Germany
- Saint-Pons, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins with other sulfides and lead sulfosalt minerals. If you start seeing jamesonite, robinsonite, bournonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dadsonite?+
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Find dadsonite on the map
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