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 — Terlinguacreekite leaves pale yellow, Eglestonite leaves yellowish-white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Terlinguacreekite leaves pale yellow, Kleinite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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