Dundasite is an attractive secondary lead mineral that typically forms delicate, snowy-white or pale-colored radiating spherical clusters. It is highly sought after by collectors for its aesthetic, pom-pom like habits, particularly when found associated with brilliant orange Crocoite.
Is this dundasite?
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 dundasite with a known reference. Dundasite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, sky blue, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, radial, spherical.
Often confused with
Dundasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cerussite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous to silky on Dundasite and adamantine, tending toward vitreous, resinous on Cerussite.
How to tell apart: Wavellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2).
Often found alongside dundasite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dundasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbAl₂(CO₃)₂(OH)₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.10-3.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, radial, spherical
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Uncommon in the oxidized zone of lead-bearing deposits
Where rockhounds find dundasite
Classic worldwide localities
- South Juanita, Tip Top, and Kelly mines, near Magdalena, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
- Success mine, Schell Creek Range, White Pine Co., Nevada, USA
- Noble mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
- Dundas, Tasmania, notably at the Adelaide Proprietary mine, and at the Hercules mine, Mt. Read, Australia
- Tui mine, Mt. Te Aroha, New Zealand
- Welsh Foxdale mine and others, near Trefriw, Gwynedd, Wales
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Uncommon in the oxidized zone of lead-bearing deposits. If you start seeing cerussite, plattnerite, azurite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, radial, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find dundasite on the map
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