Damiaoite is an extremely rare platinum-indium mineral discovered in copper-bearing iron-sulfide deposits. It typically occurs as microscopic anhedral grains associated with other platinum-group minerals. It is primarily a study specimen for advanced mineralogists focusing on platinum-group element mineralogy.
Is this damiaoite?
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 damiaoite with a known reference. Damiaoite sits at Mohs 5.3, 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: bright white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: globular.
Often confused with
Damiaoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside damiaoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with damiaoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PtIn₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.3
- Density
- 10.95 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright white
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Globular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In a contact metasomatic Co–Cu–Pt-bearing vein in garnet-amphibole pyroxenite in contact with anorthosite and granite
Where rockhounds find damiaoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Near the village of Damiao and the Yixun River, about 370 km N of Beijing, People's Republic of China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a contact metasomatic Co–Cu–Pt-bearing vein in garnet-amphibole pyroxenite in contact with anorthosite and granite. If you start seeing moncheite, sperrylite, cooperite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: globular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find damiaoite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
