Imiterite is an extremely rare silver-mercury sulfide mineral that typically occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins. It is usually found as small metallic, silver-white grains within larger silver ore deposits and is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this imiterite?
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 imiterite with a known reference. Imiterite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: dark gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: brilliant metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light gray, black, silver gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, irregular aggregates.
Often confused with
Imiterite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Imiterite leaves dark gray, Acanthite leaves black; luster reads brilliant metallic on Imiterite and metallic on Acanthite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Imiterite leaves dark gray, Argentite leaves black; luster reads brilliant metallic on Imiterite and metallic on Argentite.
Often found alongside imiterite
Minerals reported to co-occur with imiterite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₂HgS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 7.85 g/cm³
- Streak
- Dark gray
- Luster
- Brilliant metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, massive, irregular aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a pyritic deposit (Imiter mine, Morocco); in a hydrothermal vein deposit (Ramsbeck, Germany)
Where rockhounds find imiterite
Classic worldwide localities
- Imiter mine, Djebel Sarhro, Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco (type locality)
- Ramsbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a pyritic deposit (Imiter mine, Morocco); in a hydrothermal vein deposit (Ramsbeck, Germany). If you start seeing chalcopyrite, sphalerite, acanthite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, irregular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify imiterite?+
Where is imiterite found?+
Is imiterite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like imiterite?+
What minerals are found with imiterite?+
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Find imiterite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
