Dorallcharite is a rare thallium-bearing member of the jarosite group, typically found as earthy yellow coatings or crusts. It is best known from the famous Allchar deposit in North Macedonia, where it forms as a secondary mineral alongside other thallium-rich species.
Is this dorallcharite?
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 dorallcharite with a known reference. Dorallcharite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: golden yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: microcrystalline crusts, earthy aggregates.
Often confused with
Dorallcharite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dorallcharite leaves yellow, Jarosite leaves pale yellow; luster reads earthy on Dorallcharite and subadamantine to vitreous, resinous on fractures on Jarosite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dorallcharite leaves yellow, Natrojarosite leaves light yellow; luster reads earthy on Dorallcharite and vitreous on Natrojarosite.
Often found alongside dorallcharite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dorallcharite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TlFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.85 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Microcrystalline crusts, earthy aggregates
- Cleavage
- On {0001}, distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In oxidized portions of a Tl-bearing hydrothermal sulfide-sulfosalt deposit
Where rockhounds find dorallcharite
Classic worldwide localities
- Alšar (Allchar), near Rošden, Macedonia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In oxidized portions of a Tl-bearing hydrothermal sulfide-sulfosalt deposit. If you start seeing amorphous fe–mn arsenate-sulfate, gypsum, bassanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microcrystalline crusts, earthy aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find dorallcharite on the map
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