Dyscrasite is a rare silver-antimony mineral primarily found in silver-rich hydrothermal vein deposits. It is often distinguished by its silver-white color that quickly tarnishes to a brassy yellow or dark gray upon exposure to air.
Is this dyscrasite?
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 dyscrasite with a known reference. Dyscrasite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: silver-white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silver white, gray, yellow, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular, pseudo hexagonal, scaly.
Often confused with
Dyscrasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Dyscrasite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Dyscrasite leaves silver-white, Galena leaves lead-gray.
How to tell apart: Dyscrasite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Dyscrasite leaves silver-white, Stibnite leaves lead-gray.
Often found alongside dyscrasite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dyscrasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₃.₂Sb₀.₈
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 9.712 g/cm³
- Streak
- Silver-white
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, pseudo hexagonal, scaly
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {001} and {011}; imperfect on {110}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of silver
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veins with other silver minerals as both a primary and secondary mineral
Where rockhounds find dyscrasite
Classic worldwide localities
- Highbridge mine, Belmont district, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- Black Forest, from Wenzelgang, near Wolfach (type locality) and Wittichen, Germany
- St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
- Wasserfall, about 20 km northwest of Belfort, Haute-Saône, France
- Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Haut-Rhin, France
- Hiendelaencina, Guadalajara Province, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veins with other silver minerals as both a primary and secondary mineral. If you start seeing silver, pyrargyrite, acanthite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular, pseudo hexagonal, scaly. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dyscrasite?+
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Find dyscrasite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
