D'ansite is a very rare sulfate mineral occurring primarily in marine evaporite sequences. It is usually found as small, colorless to white crystals and is of interest primarily to mineral collectors focusing on evaporite species.
Is this d'ansite?
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 d'ansite with a known reference. D'Ansite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. D'Ansite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. D'Ansite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellowish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
D'Ansite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside d'ansite
Minerals reported to co-occur with d'ansite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂₁Mg(SO₄)₁₀Cl₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find d'ansite
Classic worldwide localities
- D'Ans, France
- various evaporite deposits
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where d'ansite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, thenardite, bloedite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find d'ansite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
