Daubréelite is an extremely rare iron chromium sulfide almost exclusively found as an inclusion within iron meteorites. It typically occurs as black, submetallic masses or thin lamellae intergrown with troilite, and is highly valued by meteorite collectors for its extraterrestrial origin.
Is this daubréelite?
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 daubréelite with a known reference. Daubréelite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Daubréelite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Daubréelite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: granular, massive, rarely as small octahedra.
Often confused with
Daubréelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chromite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Daubréelite leaves black, Chromite leaves dark brown.
How to tell apart: Magnetite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads submetallic on Daubréelite and metallic on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads submetallic on Daubréelite and metallic on Troilite.
Often found alongside daubréelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with daubréelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeCr₂S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.8-3.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, Massive, Rarely as Small Octahedra
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Iron Meteorites
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find daubréelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Toluca meteorite (Mexico)
- Coahuila meteorite (Mexico)
- Henbury crater (Australia)
- Canyon Diablo meteorite (USA)
Field-hunting tip
Look in iron meteorites country — that is the host setting where daubréelite typically forms. If you start seeing troilite, kamacite, taenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular, massive, rarely as small octahedra habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find daubréelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
