Weishanite is an extremely rare mercury-gold amalgam primarily found in small grains within hydrothermal ore deposits. It is chemically significant due to its specific mercury-gold ratio and is primarily sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this weishanite?
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 weishanite with a known reference. Weishanite sits at Mohs 2.4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: aggregates, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Weishanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside weishanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with weishanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Au,Ag)₃Hg₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.4
- Density
- 18.17 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the silicified zone of the silver-rich part of an Au-Ag deposit in biotite granulite
Where rockhounds find weishanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Poshan mining district, Tongbai, Henan Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the silicified zone of the silver-rich part of an Au-Ag deposit in biotite granulite. If you start seeing gold, silver, acanthite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify weishanite?+
Where is weishanite found?+
Is weishanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like weishanite?+
What minerals are found with weishanite?+
What kind of rock does weishanite form in?+
What is weishanite used for?+
Find weishanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
