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, 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?+
Where is parádsasvárite found?+
How much is parádsasvárite worth?+
What rocks look like parádsasvárite?+
What minerals are found with parádsasvárite?+
What kind of rock does parádsasvárite form in?+
What is parádsasvárite used for?+
Find parádsasvárite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
