Daliranite is a rare lead-mercury-arsenic sulfosalt primarily discovered in the Zarigan mine of Iran. It typically appears as distinct, bright red, bladed or needle-like crystal aggregates within hydrothermal ore deposits. Due to its extreme rarity and toxic composition, it is strictly a specimen for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this daliranite?
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 daliranite with a known reference. Daliranite 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. Daliranite leaves a orange-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Daliranite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: bladed, radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Daliranite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Daliranite and resinous on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Daliranite leaves orange-red, Orpiment leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine on Daliranite and resinous on Orpiment.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Daliranite leaves orange-red, Cinnabar leaves scarlet.
Often found alongside daliranite
Minerals reported to co-occur with daliranite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbHgAs₂S₆
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Orange-red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed, Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500+ for rare specimens
Where rockhounds find daliranite
Classic worldwide localities
- Zarigan mine, Bafq, Iran
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where daliranite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, sphalerite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a bladed, radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify daliranite?+
Where is daliranite found?+
How much is daliranite worth?+
Is daliranite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like daliranite?+
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Find daliranite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
