Corderoite
A variety of Minerals
What is Corderoite?
Corderoite is an extremely rare mercury sulfide chloride mineral with formula Hg3S2Cl2. It crystallizes in the isometric crystal system. It is soft, 1.5 to 2 on the Mohs scale, and varies in color from light gray to black and rarely pink or yellow. It was first described in 1974 for occurrences in the McDermitt Mercury mine in Humboldt County, Nevada. The name is from the old name of the mine, the Old Cordero Mine.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Corderoite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Corderoite Localities Map
See where Corderoite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Composition of Corderoite
Corderoite has crankshaft chains that are crosswise linked by additional Hg²+. The bond distance between the cation Hg and anion S is 2.422 Angstroms. It has two angles, Hg-S-HG= 94.1º and S-Hg-S= 165.1º. Various sulfide halides of Hg share the feature of being face-sharing [HgS2X4] −6 polyhedral, as corderoite's polyhedra X=Cl.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Light orange-pink
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3
- Density
- 6.845 g/cm³
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Hg2+3S2Cl2
- Elements
- Cl, Hg, S
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Corderoite FAQs
How do I identify Corderoite?
Corderoite can be identified by its hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, Light orange-pink color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Corderoite?
Corderoite typically appears in Light orange-pink. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Corderoite?
Corderoite has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.
What is the composition of corderoite of Corderoite?
Corderoite has crankshaft chains that are crosswise linked by additional Hg²+. The bond distance between the cation Hg and anion S is 2.422 Angstroms. It has two angles, Hg-S-HG= 94.1º and S-Hg-S= 165.1º. Various sulfide halides of Hg share the feature of being face-sharing [HgS2X4] −6 polyhedral, as corderoite's polyhedra X=Cl.
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