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 — that is 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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