Digenite is a copper sulfide mineral that typically appears as a dark blue or black massive metallic ore. It is often found in supergene enrichment zones of copper deposits, frequently replacing other sulfides like chalcopyrite or bornite. Collectors should look for its characteristic dark blue iridescent tarnish which helps distinguish it from the more common chalcocite.
Is this digenite?
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 digenite with a known reference. Digenite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark blue, blue, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: pseudo cubic.
Often confused with
Digenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Digenite leaves grayish black, Chalcocite leaves blackish lead-gray; luster reads submetallic on Digenite and metallic on Chalcocite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Digenite leaves grayish black, Covellite leaves lead-gray, shining.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Digenite leaves grayish black, Bornite leaves pale grayish black; luster reads submetallic on Digenite and metallic on Bornite.
Often found alongside digenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with digenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₉S₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 5.546 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo cubic
- Cleavage
- {111} (synthetic)
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of copper
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal copper deposits of primary and secondary origin
Where rockhounds find digenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
- United Verde mine, Jerome, Yavapai Co., the Magma mine, Superior, Pinal Co., and at Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Sangerhausen, Thuringia, Germany (type locality)
- Botallack mine, St. Just, Cornwall, and from Seathwaite Tarn, near Coniston, Cumbria, England
- Listulli, Norway
- Kiruna, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal copper deposits of primary and secondary origin. If you start seeing chalcocite, djurleite, bornite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo cubic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify digenite?+
Where is digenite found?+
Is digenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like digenite?+
What minerals are found with digenite?+
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What is digenite used for?+
Find digenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
