Dugganite is a rare lead zinc tellurate arsenate mineral typically found as small, green, hexagonal prismatic crystals or crusts. It is most famous for its occurrence in the oxidized zones of the mines in Tombstone, Arizona, where it appears alongside other rare secondary minerals. Due to its arsenic and lead content, collectors should handle specimens with care and store them securely.
Is this dugganite?
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 dugganite with a known reference. Dugganite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal prisms, crusts, coatings.
Often confused with
Dugganite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside dugganite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dugganite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₃Zn₃(Te⁶⁺O₆)(AsO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal prisms, crusts, coatings
- Cleavage
- {1120}, poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An alteration product of khinite and parakhinite, formed under acid oxidizing conditions from gold-telluride ores in massive vein quartz (Tombstone, Arizona, USA)
Where rockhounds find dugganite
Classic worldwide localities
- Emerald and Old Guard mines, and the Joe shaft, Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic district, Juab Co., Utah, USA
- Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12 km south of Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of khinite and parakhinite, formed under acid oxidizing conditions from gold-telluride ores in massive vein quartz (Tombstone, Arizona, USA). If you start seeing khinite, parakhinite, bromargyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: hexagonal prisms, crusts, coatings. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dugganite?+
Where is dugganite found?+
Is dugganite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like dugganite?+
What minerals are found with dugganite?+
What kind of rock does dugganite form in?+
What is dugganite used for?+
Find dugganite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
