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, so Rouxelite leaves yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous on Rouxelite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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