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Fairbankite

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Grand Central Mine, Contention-Grand Central Mine group, Tombstone District, Tombstone Hills, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
© Brent Thorne

Show Fairbankite Photos (4)



Formula:
Pb(TeO
 
3
)
System:TriclinicHardness:2
Name:
Named for Nathaniel Kellogg Fairbank (1829-1903), an important figure in the early development of Tombstone. It was he who organized the company that developed the Grand Central lode, the type locality.
Dimorph of:Plumbotellurite


Not to be confused with the discredited Fairbanksite.

Classification of Fairbankite

IMA status:Approved 1979
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/K.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JK.50

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
K : Tellurites without additional anions, without H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:34.1.2.1
Dana 8th edition ID:34.1.2.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.3.13

28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
3 : Tellurites
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Type Occurrence of Fairbankite

Type Locality:Grand Central Mine, Contention-Grand Central Mine group, Tombstone District, Tombstone Hills, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1979

Physical Properties of Fairbankite

Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Fairbankite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.81Å, b = 7.11Å, c = 6.96Å
α = 117.2°, β = 93.78°, γ = 93.4°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.098 : 1 : 0.979
Unit Cell Volume:V 341.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Fairbankite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 2.290 nβ = 2.310 nγ = 2.330
2V:Measured: 86° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:strong

Chemical Properties of Fairbankite

Formula:
Pb(TeO
 
3
)
Essential elements:O, Pb, Te
All elements listed in formula:O, Pb, Te

Relationship of Fairbankite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.JK.05Winstanleyite
TiTe
4+
3
O
 
8
4.JK.05Walfordite
(Fe
3+
 
,Te
6+
 
)Te
4+
3
O
 
8
4.JK.10Spiroffite
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
4+
3
O
 
8
4.JK.10Zincospiroffite
Zn
 
2
Te
4+
3
O
 
8
4.JK.15Balyakinite
Cu(TeO
 
3
)
4.JK.20Rajite
Cu(Te
4+
2
O
 
5
)
4.JK.25Carlfriesite
CaTe
4+
2
Te
6+
 
O
 
8
4.JK.30Denningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca,Zn)Te
4+
2
O
 
5
4.JK.35Chekhovichite
Bi
 
2
Te
4+
4
O
 
11
4.JK.40Smirnite
Bi
 
2
Te
4+
 
O
 
5
4.JK.45Choloalite
(Cu,Sb)
 
3
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
(TeO
 
3
)
 
6
Cl
4.JK.55Plumbotellurite
Pb(TeO
 
3
)
4.JK.60Magnolite
(Hg
+
2
)(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)
4.JK.65Moctezumite
Pb(UO
 
2
)(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
4.JK.70Schmitterite
(UO
 
2
)(TeO
 
3
)
4.JK.75Cliffordite
(UO
 
2
)Te
4+
3
O
 
7
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
28.3.1Balyakinite
Cu(TeO
 
3
)
28.3.2Rajite
Cu(Te
4+
2
O
 
5
)
28.3.3Graemite
Cu[TeO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
28.3.4Teineite
Cu[TeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.5Cesbronite
Cu
 
5
(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.6Mroseite
CaTe
4+
 
(CO
 
3
)O
 
2
28.3.7Quetzalcoatlite
Zn
 
6
Cu
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · Ag
 
x
Pb
 
y
Cl
 
x+2y
28.3.8Zemannite
Mg(ZnFe)
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
6
·9H
 
2
O
28.3.9Kinichilite
(Fe,Mg,Zn)
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
3
(Na
 
x
H
 
2-x
) · 3H
 
2
O
28.3.10Denningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca,Zn)Te
4+
2
O
 
5
28.3.11Spiroffite
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
4+
3
O
 
8
28.3.12Winstanleyite
TiTe
4+
3
O
 
8
28.3.14Plumbotellurite
Pb(TeO
 
3
)
28.3.15Choloalite
(Cu,Sb)
 
3
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
(TeO
 
3
)
 
6
Cl
28.3.16Smirnite
Bi
 
2
Te
4+
 
O
 
5
28.3.17Chekhovichite
Bi
 
2
Te
4+
4
O
 
11
28.3.18Cliffordite
(UO
 
2
)Te
4+
3
O
 
7
28.3.19Schmitterite
(UO
 
2
)(TeO
 
3
)
28.3.20Moctezumite
Pb(UO
 
2
)(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
28.3.21Emmonsite
Fe
3+
2
[TeO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.22Blakeite
Fe
3+
2
[TeO
 
3
]
 
3
 (?)
28.3.23Mackayite
Fe
3+
 
(Te
4+
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
28.3.24Poughite
Fe
3+
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
) · 3H
 
2
O
28.3.25Sonoraite
Fe
3+
 
(TeO
 
3
)(OH) · H
 
2
O
28.3.26Rodalquilarite
H
 
3
Fe
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
4
Cl
28.3.27Eztlite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
6
(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)
 
3
(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
10
 · 8H
 
2
O
28.3.28Keystoneite
(Ni,Mg,Fe,Mn)
 
3
Te
 
3
O
 
9
 · 5H
 
2
O

Other Names for Fairbankite

Synonyms:
IMA1979-003
Other Languages:
German:Fairbankit
Spanish:Fairbankita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Fairbankite

Reference List:

- +
Williams, S.A. (1979): Girdite, oboyerite, fairbankite, and winstanleyite, four new tellurium minerals from Tombstone, AZ. Mineralogical Magazine, 43, 453-457.

American Mineralogist: 65: 809.

Internet Links for Fairbankite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Fairbankite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
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  • Visit the Pueblo Gem and Mineral show, Tucson 2012
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    • Localities for Fairbankite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone Hills
          • Tombstone District
            • Contention-Grand Central Mine group
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 218; Williams, S.A. (1979), Girdite, oboyerite, fairbankite, and winstanleyite, four new tellurium minerals from Tombstone, AZ, Min.Mag.: 43: 453-457.
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