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 — Daliranite leaves orange-red, Orpiment leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine on Daliranite and resinous on Orpiment.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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?+
What minerals are found with daliranite?+
What kind of rock does daliranite form in?+
What is daliranite used for?+
Find daliranite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
