Dioskouriite is an extremely rare lead-copper chloride sulfate mineral discovered in the historic slag heaps of Lavrion, Greece. It typically forms as delicate, colorless to white tabular or platy crystals associated with other lead-bearing secondary minerals. Due to its extreme rarity, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors specializing in secondary minerals.
Is this dioskouriite?
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 dioskouriite with a known reference. Dioskouriite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Dioskouriite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Paralaurionite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous on Dioskouriite and subadamantine on Paralaurionite.
How to tell apart: Laurionite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous on Dioskouriite and adamantine, pearly on {100} on Laurionite.
Often found alongside dioskouriite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dioskouriite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCu₄Cl₆(OH)₄·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Slag heaps and hydrothermal vein environments.
Where rockhounds find dioskouriite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion District, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Slag heaps and hydrothermal vein environments.. If you start seeing laurionite, fosfophyllite, anglesite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dioskouriite?+
Where is dioskouriite found?+
Is dioskouriite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like dioskouriite?+
What minerals are found with dioskouriite?+
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Find dioskouriite on the map
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