Edgarbaileyite is a rare mercury silicate mineral primarily found in mercury-rich hydrothermal deposits. It is known for its distinct yellow to greenish-yellow color and high density, typically appearing as small tabular crystals or crusts on host rock.
Is this edgarbaileyite?
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 edgarbaileyite with a known reference. Edgarbaileyite 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. Streak: pale yellowish green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, resinous when nodular.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orangish yellow, dark olive green, yellowish green, dark green brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Edgarbaileyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Edgarbaileyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Edgarbaileyite leaves pale yellowish green, Eglestonite leaves yellow or greenish yellow, rapidly becoming black; luster reads vitreous, resinous when nodular on Edgarbaileyite and brilliant adamantine to resinous on Eglestonite.
How to tell apart: Edgarbaileyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Edgarbaileyite leaves pale yellowish green, Kadyrelite leaves yellow-orange.
Often found alongside edgarbaileyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with edgarbaileyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg₆Si₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 9.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellowish green
- Luster
- Vitreous, resinous when nodular
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral, probably resulting from reaction between mercury and quartz under unknown conditions
Where rockhounds find edgarbaileyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Socrates mercury mine, Sonoma Co., and near the Clear Creek mercury mine, New Idria district, San Benito Co., California, USA
- Terlingua, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
- San Luis mine, Huahuaxtla, Guerrero, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral, probably resulting from reaction between mercury and quartz under unknown conditions. If you start seeing mercury, cinnabar, montroydite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find edgarbaileyite on the map
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