Danielsite is a rare silver-mercury sulfiodide mineral typically found as small, translucent yellow tabular crystals. It is primarily known from the Jas Roux deposit in the French Alps and is highly sought after by advanced collectors of rare mercury species.
Is this danielsite?
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 danielsite with a known reference. Danielsite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Danielsite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Danielsite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular to blocky crystals.
Often confused with
Danielsite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Danielsite leaves yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads resinous on Danielsite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Danielsite leaves yellow, Smithite leaves orange-red; luster reads resinous on Danielsite and adamantine on Smithite.
Often found alongside danielsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with danielsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgHg₂S₂I
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 2.44 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to Blocky Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $200-1000+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find danielsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jas Roux, Hautes-Alpes, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where danielsite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, realgar, stibnite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular to blocky crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find danielsite on the map
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