Kenhsuite is a rare mercury chloride-sulfide mineral found in oxidized zones of mercury deposits. It typically presents as small, vivid red 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 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kenhsuite leaves a red-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kenhsuite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: microcrystalline aggregates, encrustations.
Often confused with
Kenhsuite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kenhsuite leaves red-orange, Cinnabar leaves scarlet.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kenhsuite leaves red-orange, Calomel leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kenhsuite leaves red-orange, Terlinguaite leaves yellow.
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
- Density
- 8.1-8.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Red-orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Microcrystalline Aggregates, Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Mercury-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen depending on size and rarity
Where rockhounds find kenhsuite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kenh River, Vietnam
- Terlingua District, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in mercury-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where kenhsuite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, calomel, eglestonite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microcrystalline aggregates, encrustations habit, so 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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