Hutchinsonite is a rare thallium-arsenic sulfosalt often found as small, deep red, translucent crystals. It is highly sought after by collectors for its beauty, though it requires cautious handling due to its toxic heavy metal content.
Is this hutchinsonite?
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 hutchinsonite with a known reference. Hutchinsonite 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. Hutchinsonite leaves a red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hutchinsonite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, dark red, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, striated, acicular.
Often confused with
Hutchinsonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hutchinsonite leaves red, Realgar leaves orange-red; luster reads adamantine on Hutchinsonite and resinous on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hutchinsonite leaves red, Orpiment leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine on Hutchinsonite and resinous on Orpiment.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hutchinsonite leaves red, Smithite leaves orange-red.
Often found alongside hutchinsonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hutchinsonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Tl,Pb)₂As₅S₉
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 4.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- Red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Striated, Acicular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Dolomitic Marble
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find hutchinsonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lengenbach Quarry, Switzerland
- Allchar, North Macedonia
- Jas Roux, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in dolomitic marble country — that is the host setting where hutchinsonite typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, orpiment, sartorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, striated, acicular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hutchinsonite on the map
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