Hanawaltite is an extremely rare mercury-lead oxychloride mineral found in oxidized mineral deposits. It typically occurs as small, brittle, dark brown platy crystals that form in high-grade oxidized zones.
Is this hanawaltite?
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 hanawaltite with a known reference. Hanawaltite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hanawaltite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hanawaltite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, yellow-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Hanawaltite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hanawaltite leaves yellowish brown, Eglestonite leaves yellowish-white; luster reads metallic on Hanawaltite and adamantine on Eglestonite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hanawaltite leaves yellowish brown, Terlinguaite leaves yellow; luster reads metallic on Hanawaltite and adamantine on Terlinguaite.
Often found alongside hanawaltite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hanawaltite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Hg¹⁺₆Hg²⁺O₃(Cl,OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 8.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Mercury-lead Ore Deposits
Where rockhounds find hanawaltite
Classic worldwide localities
- Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized mercury-lead ore deposits country, the host setting where hanawaltite typically forms. If you start seeing eglestonite, calcite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hanawaltite?+
Where is hanawaltite found?+
Is hanawaltite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hanawaltite?+
What minerals are found with hanawaltite?+
What kind of rock does hanawaltite form in?+
What is hanawaltite used for?+
Find hanawaltite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
