Disulfodadsonite is an extremely rare sulfosalt mineral structurally related to dadsonite, often found as delicate fibrous or acicular aggregates in lead-antimony vein deposits. It is best identified through laboratory analysis such as X-ray diffraction, as it is visually indistinguishable from other lead-antimony sulfosalts to the naked eye.
Is this disulfodadsonite?
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 disulfodadsonite with a known reference. Disulfodadsonite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Disulfodadsonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Disulfodadsonite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves black. grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Disulfodadsonite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish.
Often found alongside disulfodadsonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with disulfodadsonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₁₁Sb₁₃S₃₀(S₂)₀.₅
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.898 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In pockets with high sulfur fugacity during hydrothermal alteration of marble
Where rockhounds find disulfodadsonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Marble quarry in the Ceragiola area, near Seravezza, Apuan Alps, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In pockets with high sulfur fugacity during hydrothermal alteration of marble. If you start seeing boulangerite, calcite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify disulfodadsonite?+
Where is disulfodadsonite found?+
Is disulfodadsonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like disulfodadsonite?+
What minerals are found with disulfodadsonite?+
What kind of rock does disulfodadsonite form in?+
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Find disulfodadsonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
