Parádsasvárite is a rare zinc carbonate hydroxide mineral occurring as delicate, acicular, white-to-colorless crystal clusters. It is primarily known from its type locality in the ore-bearing veins of the Mátra Mountains in Hungary. Collectors prize it for its unique habit and rarity compared to the more common smithsonite.
Is this parádsasvárite?
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 parádsasvárite with a known reference. Parádsasvárite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Parádsasvárite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Parádsasvárite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiated aggregates.
Often confused with
Parádsasvárite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside parádsasvárite
Minerals reported to co-occur with parádsasvárite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.43 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Radiated Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find parádsasvárite
Classic worldwide localities
- Parádsasvár, Hungary
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where parádsasvárite typically forms. If you start seeing smithsonite, quartz, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, radiated aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify parádsasvárite?+
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Find parádsasvárite on the map
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