Lavrentievite is a rare mercury sulfohalide primarily found in high-temperature hydrothermal mercury deposits. It is best identified by its adamantine luster and association with other rare mercury halides, typically appearing as small, tabular crystals.
Is this lavrentievite?
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 lavrentievite with a known reference. Lavrentievite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: grayish black, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Lavrentievite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lavrentievite leaves white, Eglestonite leaves yellow or greenish yellow, rapidly becoming black; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Lavrentievite and brilliant adamantine to resinous on Eglestonite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lavrentievite leaves white, Calomel leaves pale yellowish white; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Lavrentievite and adamantine on Calomel.
Often found alongside lavrentievite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lavrentievite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg₃S₂Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 7.46 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized zone of hydrothermal mercury-bearing deposits (Arzak and Kadyrel deposits, Russia)
Where rockhounds find lavrentievite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pii-Khem district, Tuva, Siberia, from the Arzak mercury deposit, Uyuk Range (type locality) and the Kadyrel mercury deposit, right bank of the Oorash-Khem River Valley, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized zone of hydrothermal mercury-bearing deposits (Arzak and Kadyrel deposits, Russia). If you start seeing arzakite, cinnabar, corderoite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find lavrentievite on the map
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