Mosesite
A very rare mercury-ammonium mineral found as an accessory in mercury deposits.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Mosesite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula (Hg₂N)Cl.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 7.72; Very pale yellow streak; Adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Mos, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1910.
A rare secondary mineral formed at low temperature in hydrothermal mercury deposits.
It is found associated with Calcite, cinnabar, metacinnabar, mercury, eglestonite, kleinite, terlinguaite, montroydite, calomel, gypsum.
The mineral was named to honor Alfred J. Moses (1859–1920), American mineralogist, Professor of Mineralogy, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA.