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. Disulfodadsonite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Disulfodadsonite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. 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 — Disulfodadsonite leaves black, Jamesonite leaves gray-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Disulfodadsonite leaves black, Boulangerite leaves brownish-gray.
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
- Pb₂₃Sb₂₅S₅₈Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.0-6.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find disulfodadsonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
- Wolfsberg, Germany
- Broken Hill, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where disulfodadsonite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, pyrite, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify disulfodadsonite?+
Where is disulfodadsonite found?+
How much is disulfodadsonite worth?+
Is disulfodadsonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like disulfodadsonite?+
What minerals are found with disulfodadsonite?+
What kind of rock does disulfodadsonite form in?+
What is disulfodadsonite used for?+
Find disulfodadsonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
