Extremely rare mercury mineral (Hg3S2Cl2) known from only two localities worldwide, being this Spanish locality (Oriental Mine, Chóvar, Valencian Community, Spain) the best by far, in size and quality of the crystals. Kenshuite is present as pinkish yellow acicular crystals of prismatic habit associated to massive cinnabar and malachite. See an excellent article on the locality in Mineral Up 2007/1 p.46-49. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kenhsuite
A rare mercury sulfide-chloride described from Nevada's McDermitt mine.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Kenhsuite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula Hg₃S₂Cl₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group A2mm).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–3; specific gravity 6.86; Canary yellow streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Khs, IMA status: approved, named in 1996.
Along fractures in hydrothermally altered, rhyolitic, tuffaceous lacustrine rocks in a caldera complex.
It is found associated with Corderoite (α-Hg3S2Cl2), cinnabar.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Kenneth Jinghwa Hsu (b. 1929), Professor Emeritus, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E.T.H.), Zurich, Switzerland.