Hemusite is an extremely rare copper-tin-molybdenum sulfide mineral typically found in epithermal gold-copper deposits. It usually occurs as microscopic inclusions or fine-grained masses within other sulfide minerals, making hand-specimen identification difficult without laboratory analysis.
Is this hemusite?
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 hemusite with a known reference. Hemusite 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: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Hemusite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hemusite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 3); streak differs, so Hemusite leaves black, Enargite leaves grayish black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hemusite leaves black, Tennantite leaves reddish gray.
How to tell apart: Hemusite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 3-3.25); streak differs, so Hemusite leaves black, Bornite leaves pale grayish black.
Often found alongside hemusite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hemusite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₆SnMoS₈
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 4.47 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Of hydrothermal origin, early formed in the mineral association (Chelopech, Bulgaria); in a polymetallic deposit in carboniferous porphyritic andesites (Kochbulak deposit, Uzbekistan)
Where rockhounds find hemusite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chelopech deposit, Sofia, Bulgaria (type locality)
- Kochbulak gold deposit, Chatkal-Kuramin Mountains, eastern Uzbekistan
- Kawazu mine, Shizuoka Prefecture, and at the Iriki mine, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Of hydrothermal origin, early formed in the mineral association (Chelopech, Bulgaria); in a polymetallic deposit in carboniferous porphyritic andesites (Kochbulak deposit, Uzbekistan). If you start seeing enargite, luzonite, colusite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hemusite?+
Where is hemusite found?+
Is hemusite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hemusite?+
What minerals are found with hemusite?+
What kind of rock does hemusite form in?+
What is hemusite used for?+
Find hemusite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
