Prachařite is a rare mercury-lead selenite mineral found in hydrothermal environments. It typically forms thin, yellow platy crystals or crusts and is identified by its specific mineral association within selenide-rich deposits.
Is this prachařite?
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 prachařite with a known reference. Prachařite 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. Prachařite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Prachařite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Prachařite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Eskebornite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Prachařite leaves yellow, Eskebornite leaves black; luster reads resinous on Prachařite and metallic on Eskebornite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Prachařite leaves yellow, Clausthalite leaves gray-black; luster reads resinous on Prachařite and metallic on Clausthalite.
Often found alongside prachařite
Minerals reported to co-occur with prachařite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg²⁺Pb²⁺(Se⁴⁺O₃)S
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.92 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find prachařite
Classic worldwide localities
- Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where prachařite typically forms. If you start seeing eskebornite, clausthalite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find prachařite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
