The facts
What myrickite actually is
The species behind myrickite is chalcedony or common opal with cinnabar, SiO₂ with HgS; it forms in the cryptocrystalline or amorphous host system.
Cinnabar (mercury sulphide) gives blood-red patches in a white to grey silica host is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.45–1.54 (variable) and a specific gravity of about 2.2–2.7, with none cleavage.
Where myrickite comes from
Commercial material comes from Steamboat Springs, Washoe County, Nevada, USA, San Benito County, California, USA and Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How myrickite is treated
Untreated, but it contains mercury sulphide: cut and grind wet, avoid dust, and do not heat it. The red can darken on prolonged light exposure as cinnabar converts towards metacinnabar.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What myrickite is confused with
Watch for Carnelian, Jasper, Cinnabar and Dyed chalcedony — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.45–1.54 (variable) and specific gravity 2.2–2.7 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What myrickite is used for
The trades that buy myrickite are mineral collecting and decorative objects. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What myrickite costs
Expect roughly Cabochons 20–100 USD, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is myrickite treated, and how?
Untreated, but it contains mercury sulphide: cut and grind wet, avoid dust, and do not heat it. The red can darken on prolonged light exposure as cinnabar converts towards metacinnabar.
Where does myrickite come from?
Steamboat Springs, Washoe County, Nevada, USA, San Benito County, California, USA and Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is myrickite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–7 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does myrickite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons 20–100 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is myrickite confused with?
Most often Carnelian, Jasper, Cinnabar and Dyed chalcedony. A refractive index of 1.45–1.54 (variable) and a specific gravity near 2.2–2.7 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for myrickite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about myrickite