Home > Lead Minerals – December 10 > MS1462 Hutchinsonite

Hutchinsonite - Sold


Hutchinsonite is a lead thallium arsenic sulfosalt. The name honors Arthur Hutchinson (1866-1937), former professor of mineralogy at Cambridge (Solly, 1905). While originally believed to have lead and thallium in substitution, crystal structure analysis most recently by (Matsushita & Takéuchi, 1994) indicates that the two metals occupy separate atomic positions in the crystal structure. Consequently both lead and thallium are essential to the species.

The Quiruvilca (formerly La Libertad) mine produces the "best of species" hutchinsonite. On this specimen, hutchinsonite forms crystals to 8 mm. The mineral has formed on both sides of the specimen, with associated orpiment. Unfortunately some of the orpiment is bruised. This is a good example of the species at an affordable price.