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.

Hardness

2.5-3

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrare

D'Ansite

Hardness: 2.5-3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

No image

Is this d'ansite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch d'ansite with a known reference. D'Ansite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. 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: 2.5-3
Density: 2.63-2.655 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A component of marine evaporite deposits

Where rockhounds find d'ansite

Classic worldwide localities

Hall, near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria (type locality)

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A component of marine evaporite deposits. If you start seeing vanthoffite, thénardite, blödite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify d'ansite?+

Mohs hardness is 2.5-3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless.

Where is d'ansite found?+

Notable localities include Hall, near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria (type locality).

What rocks look like d'ansite?+

D'Ansite is most often confused with Thénardite, Halite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with d'ansite?+

D'Ansite commonly co-occurs with Vanthoffite, Thénardite, Blödite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does d'ansite form in?+

Where it forms: A component of marine evaporite deposits. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is d'ansite used for?+

D'Ansite is used in collector.

Find d'ansite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.