Routhierite is a very rare thallium-mercury sulfosalt mineral primarily identified in specific hydrothermal deposits. It is typically found as small, deep red to black grains associated with other rare thallium minerals and is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this routhierite?
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 routhierite with a known reference. Routhierite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Routhierite leaves a red-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Routhierite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: deep red, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive.
Often confused with
Routhierite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Routhierite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Routhierite leaves red-brown, Realgar leaves orange-red; luster reads metallic on Routhierite and resinous on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Routhierite leaves red-brown, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads metallic on Routhierite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
Often found alongside routhierite
Minerals reported to co-occur with routhierite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TlCuHgAs₂S₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- Red-brown
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find routhierite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jas Roux, Hautes-Alpes, France
- Allchar, North Macedonia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where routhierite typically forms. If you start seeing realgar, lorandite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find routhierite on the map
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