Kenhsuite is a rare mercury chloride-sulfide mineral found in oxidized zones of mercury deposits. It typically presents as small, canary yellow crystalline coatings or aggregates associated with other mercury halides and minerals like cinnabar.
Is this kenhsuite?
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 kenhsuite with a known reference. Kenhsuite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: canary yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: canary yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Kenhsuite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kenhsuite leaves canary yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous on Kenhsuite and adamantine, inclining to metallic when dark; dull in friable material on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kenhsuite leaves canary yellow, Calomel leaves pale yellowish white; luster reads vitreous on Kenhsuite and adamantine on Calomel.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kenhsuite leaves canary yellow, Terlinguaite leaves lemon-yellow, turning olive-green; luster reads vitreous on Kenhsuite and brilliant adamantine on Terlinguaite.
Often found alongside kenhsuite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kenhsuite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg₃S₂Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 6.86 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Canary yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Excellent on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Along fractures in hydrothermally altered, rhyolitic, tuffaceous lacustrine rocks in a caldera complex
Where rockhounds find kenhsuite
Classic worldwide localities
- McDermitt mercury deposit, ~10 km southwest of McDermitt, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Along fractures in hydrothermally altered, rhyolitic, tuffaceous lacustrine rocks in a caldera complex. If you start seeing corderoite, cinnabar in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kenhsuite on the map
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