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. Dioskouriite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dioskouriite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 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: Luster reads vitreous on Dioskouriite and adamantine 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 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
- Pb₃Cu₄Cl₄(OH)₈SO₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.16 g/cm³
- 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.
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality.
Where rockhounds find dioskouriite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion District, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Look in slag heaps and hydrothermal vein environments. country, the host setting where dioskouriite typically forms. If you start seeing laurionite, fosfophyllite, anglesite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dioskouriite?+
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Find dioskouriite on the map
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