Terlinguacreekite is a rare mercury oxychloride mineral first identified in the famous mercury mines of the Terlingua district in Texas. It typically presents as small, tabular, yellowish-orange crystals or thin crusts associated with other secondary mercury minerals in limestone-hosted hydrothermal veins.
Is this terlinguacreekite?
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 terlinguacreekite with a known reference. Terlinguacreekite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Terlinguacreekite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Terlinguacreekite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, aggregates.
Often confused with
Terlinguacreekite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Terlinguacreekite leaves pale yellow, Eglestonite leaves yellowish-white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Terlinguacreekite leaves pale yellow, Kleinite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Terlinguacreekite leaves pale yellow, Terlinguaite leaves yellow.
Often found alongside terlinguacreekite
Minerals reported to co-occur with terlinguacreekite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg₃Cl₂O₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 7.5-7.7 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mercury Deposits in Limestone
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and matrix
Where rockhounds find terlinguacreekite
Classic worldwide localities
- Terlingua District, Brewster County, Texas, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mercury deposits in limestone country, the host setting where terlinguacreekite typically forms. If you start seeing calomel, terlinguaite, eglestonite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find terlinguacreekite on the map
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