Rudashevskyite is a very rare mercury-zinc sulfide mineral occurring primarily as microscopic grains within epithermal deposit assemblages. It is best identified through laboratory analysis of its opaque, metallic-grey composition due to its extreme scarcity in the field.
Is this rudashevskyite?
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 rudashevskyite with a known reference. Rudashevskyite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown-black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Rudashevskyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rudashevskyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Rudashevskyite leaves brown-black, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Rudashevskyite and adamantine, inclining to metallic when dark; dull in friable material on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Rudashevskyite leaves brown-black, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white.
How to tell apart: Rudashevskyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 3); streak differs, so Rudashevskyite leaves brown-black, Metacinnabar leaves black; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Rudashevskyite and metallic on Metacinnabar.
Often found alongside rudashevskyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rudashevskyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Zn)S
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.79 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown-black
- Luster
- Resinous to submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals
- Cleavage
- None observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An accessory phase in enstatite chondrite meteorites
Where rockhounds find rudashevskyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Indarch meteorite, Shusha, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An accessory phase in enstatite chondrite meteorites. If you start seeing clinoenstatite, kamacite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rudashevskyite on the map
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