Rouxelite is an exceptionally rare copper-mercury-lead-antimony sulfoselenide mineral known primarily from the Crvena Stijena mine in Serbia. It typically forms delicate red to brownish-red acicular or fibrous needle-like crystals that require careful handling due to their fragile nature.
Is this rouxelite?
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 rouxelite with a known reference. Rouxelite 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. Rouxelite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rouxelite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, brownish-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Rouxelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rouxelite leaves yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous on Rouxelite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rouxelite leaves yellow, Stibnite leaves lead-gray; luster reads vitreous on Rouxelite and metallic on Stibnite.
Often found alongside rouxelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rouxelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂HgPb₂Sb₂Se₆S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.95 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Fibrous Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find rouxelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Crvena Stijena mine, Serbia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mineral deposits country — that is the host setting where rouxelite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, stibnite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or fibrous radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify rouxelite?+
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How much is rouxelite worth?+
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Find rouxelite on the map
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