How do I identify Danielsite?

Danielsite can be identified by its hardness of 1.5 - 2 on the Mohs scale, Grey color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Danielsite?

Danielsite typically appears in Grey. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Danielsite?

Danielsite has a hardness of 1.5 - 2 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Danielsite

A variety of Minerals

What is Danielsite?

Danielsite is a sulfide and sulfosalt that was first discovered in a pocket of supergene minerals in the north region of Western Australia. The location found was about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of the locality known as Coppin Pool. The mineral danielsite was named after John L. Daniels who collected the sample in which the new mineral was found. The chemical formula of danielsite is (Cu,Ag)14HgS8. Danielsite is very fine grained and hard to observe in hand samples. It generally has a gray color with very brittle and soft physical characteristics.

Danielsite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Danielsite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Danielsite Localities Map

See where Danielsite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Danielsite

Danielsite is a metallic-gray mineral that looks a lot like stromeyerite, the main difference between the two is that stormeyerites colors are yellow to brown whereas danielsite is gray. Danielsite is very soft and brittle with only a 1.5-2.5 on the mohs hardness scale (VHN10 hardness of 38). There is no discernible type of cleavage, but due to the small size of the crystallites the possibility of cleavage can't be 100% excluded. It is a rather dense mineral weighing in at 6.541 g/cm.

Formation of Danielsite

Danielsite occurs in the mineral anglesite as ragged polycrystalline masses typically intergrown with covellite, stromeyerite, and chalcocite. The size of these masses is typically 20 micrometres (0.00079 in) across. Due to its occurrence with stromeyerite it is thought to possibly be a polymorphic replacement of galena. Danielsite was found in a gossanous pod in a white quartz vein. It has been found near Coppin Pool, Ashburton Shire, Western Australia, Australia, Austria, and Belgium.

Composition of Danielsite

The data for this chart was gathered using a polished section by electron microprobe and using a crystal spectrometer with the following standards: galena (S), cinnabar (Hg), and metals (Ag and Cu). The results were calculated on the basis of 23 atoms due to its chemical formula being very similar to balkanite.