Grechishchevite is a rare mercury sulfohalide mineral found primarily in specific Russian mercury deposits. It typically forms small, reddish-brown crystals that are prized by advanced mineral collectors for their unique composition and scarcity.
Is this grechishchevite?
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 grechishchevite with a known reference. Grechishchevite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Grechishchevite leaves a orange-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Grechishchevite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, brownish-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: equant crystals.
Often confused with
Grechishchevite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside grechishchevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with grechishchevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg₃S₂(Cl,Br)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 7.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Orange-red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant Crystals
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mercury Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500+ depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find grechishchevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Umit deposit, Gorno-Altai, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mercury deposits country, the host setting where grechishchevite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, lavrentievite, calomel in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find grechishchevite on the map
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