Danbaite is an extremely rare copper-zinc intermetallic mineral first discovered in China. It typically occurs as minute, silver-white metallic grains embedded in gold-bearing quartz veins or associated with base metal sulfides.
Is this danbaite?
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 danbaite with a known reference. Danbaite sits at Mohs 4.2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: bronze.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: strong metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver white, gray white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: aggregates, microscopic crystals, spherical.
Often confused with
Danbaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Danbaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.2 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Danbaite leaves bronze, Gold leaves yellow; luster reads strong metallic on Danbaite and metallic on Gold.
How to tell apart: Danbaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.2 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Danbaite leaves bronze, Copper leaves rose; luster reads strong metallic on Danbaite and metallic on Copper.
Often found alongside danbaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with danbaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuZn₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.2
- Density
- 7.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Bronze
- Luster
- Strong metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, microscopic crystals, spherical
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a platinum-bearing Cu–Ni deposit in a highly altered ultramafic intrusion
Where rockhounds find danbaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Danba, Sichuan Province, China (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a platinum-bearing Cu–Ni deposit in a highly altered ultramafic intrusion. If you start seeing chromium, pyrrhotite, pentlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, microscopic crystals, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find danbaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
