Quijarroite is a very rare copper-mercury-lead-bismuth selenide mineral found in selenide-rich hydrothermal veins. It typically occurs as microscopic anhedral grains associated with other selenide minerals and is primarily a specialist collector's species.
Is this quijarroite?
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 quijarroite with a known reference. Quijarroite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Quijarroite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside quijarroite
Minerals reported to co-occur with quijarroite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₆HgPb₂Bi₄Se₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.771 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A primary mineral, deposited from an oxidizing, low-temperature hydrothermal fluid in a vein cutting pyrite-rich black shales and reddish-gray, hematite-bearing siltstones
Where rockhounds find quijarroite
Classic worldwide localities
- El Dragón mine, Antonio Quijarro Province, Department of Potosí, Bolivia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A primary mineral, deposited from an oxidizing, low-temperature hydrothermal fluid in a vein cutting pyrite-rich black shales and reddish-gray, hematite-bearing siltstones. If you start seeing watkinsonite, clausthalite, eldragónite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify quijarroite?+
Where is quijarroite found?+
Is quijarroite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like quijarroite?+
What minerals are found with quijarroite?+
What kind of rock does quijarroite form in?+
What is quijarroite used for?+
Find quijarroite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
