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 — that is 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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