Debattistiite is a rare silver mercury arsenic sulfosalt that forms black tabular well-formed crystals. It is a rare hydrothermal mineral in dolomitic marble. Associated minerals include realgar, rutile and trechmannite. It was first described from Lengenbach quarry, Binn Valley, Valais, Switzerland.
Is this debattistiite?
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 debattistiite with a known reference. Debattistiite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Debattistiite leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Debattistiite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular well-formed crystals.
Often confused with
Debattistiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Gudmundite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Debattistiite leaves gray, Gudmundite leaves dark gray to black.
How to tell apart: Arsenopyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Debattistiite leaves gray, Arsenopyrite leaves black.
Often found alongside debattistiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with debattistiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₉Hg₀.₅As₆S₁₂Te₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 5.647 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Well-formed Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Dolomite Veins
Where rockhounds find debattistiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Binn Valley, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Look in dolomite veins country, the host setting where debattistiite typically forms. If you start seeing sartorite, dufrénoysite, realgar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular well-formed crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find debattistiite on the map
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