Christite is a very rare thallium-mercury sulfosalt that typically occurs as tiny, brilliant red tabular crystals. It is primarily found in association with realgar and other thallium minerals in specific gold-bearing hydrothermal deposits. Because of its toxicity and rarity, it is sought after exclusively by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this christite?
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 christite with a known reference. Christite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Christite leaves a orange-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Christite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, deep red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: small tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Christite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside christite
Minerals reported to co-occur with christite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TlHgAsS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange-red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Small Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Sedimentary Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find christite
Classic worldwide localities
- Carlin gold mine, Nevada, USA
- Getchell mine, Nevada, USA
- Allchar, North Macedonia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in sedimentary deposits country — that is the host setting where christite typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, orpiment, lorándite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a small tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find christite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
