Murchisite is a rare chromium sulfide that forms gray subhedral crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2010. It was first described from material found in Australia (meteorite).
Is this murchisite?
3-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 murchisite with a known reference. Murchisite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, gray.
- 3Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: subhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Murchisite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside murchisite
Minerals reported to co-occur with murchisite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cr₅S₆
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 4.22 g/cm³
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Subhedral crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- evaporite deposits
Where rockhounds find murchisite
Classic worldwide localities
- Material found in Australia (meteorite)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: evaporite deposits. If you start seeing low-ni iron, martensitic iron, schreibersite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: subhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify murchisite?+
Where is murchisite found?+
What rocks look like murchisite?+
What minerals are found with murchisite?+
What kind of rock does murchisite form in?+
What is murchisite used for?+
Find murchisite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
