Paratellurite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Paratellurite
Formula:
TeO2
Colour:
Greyish-white, pale yellow, creamy yellow
Lustre:
Resinous, Waxy
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
5.60
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named from the Greek 'para' for near, and tellurite, for the polymorphic relationship to that mineral.
Co-Type Localities:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Paratellurite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3116
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3116:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
171efa18-4a72-4c4b-b753-b175978bfd4d
IMA Classification of Paratellurite
Approved
First published:
1960
Classification of Paratellurite
4.DE.25
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
E : With medium-sized cations; with various polyhedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
E : With medium-sized cations; with various polyhedra
4.4.3.2
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
7.17.3
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
17 : Oxides of Se and Te
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
17 : Oxides of Se and Te
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ptlr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Par | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Paratellurite
Resinous, Waxy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Greyish-white, pale yellow, creamy yellow
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Density:
5.60 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.017 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured vlaue is low due to fine grained nature of the type matrial
Optical Data of Paratellurite
Type:
Uniaxial
Comments:
ω = > 2.05 ε = > 2.05
Chemistry of Paratellurite
Mindat Formula:
TeO2
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Paratellurite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.810(1) Å, c = 7.613(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.583
Unit Cell V:
176.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space Group: P4121 or P43212 (synthetic).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011767 | Paratellurite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 239-444 | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.988 Å | (100) |
| 3.404 Å | (86) |
| 1.873 Å | (55) |
| 1.661 Å | (22) |
| 2.407 Å | (20) |
| 3.107 Å | (13) |
| 4.068 Å | (12) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Paratellurite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very fine grained, massive or pseudomorphous after tellurite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M25007.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, C5995, R8861.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, C5995, R8861.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
An alteration product of tellurium and tellurite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Switzer, G., Swanson, H.E. (1960) News and notes: paratellurite, a new mineral from Mexico. American Mineralogist: 45: 1272-1274.
Other Language Names for Paratellurite
Relationship of Paratellurite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Argutite | GeO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Cassiterite | SnO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Plattnerite | PbO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Rutile | TiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Stishovite | SiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
| UM2000-35-O:FeNbScTaTi | (Sc,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn)(Ti,Sn,Zr)1.5(Nb,Ta,W)1.33O8 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 20 photos of Paratellurite associated with Tellurite | TeO2 |
| 8 photos of Paratellurite associated with Gold | Au |
| 7 photos of Paratellurite associated with Rodalquilarite | Fe2(TeO2OH)3(TeO3)Cl |
| 5 photos of Paratellurite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Paratellurite associated with Zemannite | Mg0.5ZnFe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
| 4 photos of Paratellurite associated with Tellurium | Te |
| 3 photos of Paratellurite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 3 photos of Paratellurite associated with Emmonsite | Fe3+2(TeO3)3 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Paratellurite associated with Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
| 3 photos of Paratellurite associated with Spiroffite | Mn2+2Te4+3O8 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DE. | Ziroite | ZrO2 |
| 4.DE. | Pertoldite | GeO2 |
| 4.DE. | Colchesterite | Bi3+2Mo6+2O9 |
| 4.DE.05 | Downeyite | SeO2 |
| 4.DE.10 | Koragoite | (Mn2+,Fe3+)3(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(Nb,Mn)2(W,Ta)2O20 |
| 4.DE.15 | Koechlinite | Bi2MoO6 |
| 4.DE.15 | Russellite | Bi2WO6 |
| 4.DE.15 | Tungstibite | Sb3+2WO6 |
| 4.DE.20 | Tellurite | TeO2 |
| 4.DE.30 | Bismutotantalite | Bi(Ta,Nb)O4 |
| 4.DE.30 | Bismutocolumbite | Bi(Nb,Ta)O4 |
| 4.DE.30 | Cervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DE.30 | Stibiotantalite | Sb(Ta,Nb)O4 |
| 4.DE.30 | Stibiocolumbite | Sb(Nb,Ta)O4 |
| 4.DE.30 | Clinocervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DE.35 | Baddeleyite | ZrO2 |
| 4.DE.40 | Billwiseite | Sb3+5Nb3WO18 |
| 4.DE.45 | Kyawthuite | Bi3+Sb5+O4 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Paratellurite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3116.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Paratellurite
Reference List:
Switzer, G., Swanson, H. E. (1960) Paratellurite, a new mineral from Mexico. American Mineralogist, 45 (11-12) 1272-1274
Localities for Paratellurite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| A. R. Wilde (1988) |
Austria | |
| Auer (2019) |
Belgium | |
| du Ry et al. (1976) +3 other references |
| du Ry et al. (1976) +3 other references | |
Chile | |
| Maurizio Dini collection - analysed with EDX (by Dr. Jochen Schlüter) |
| maurizio dini collection - analysed ... +3 other references | |
Ghana | |
| Bowell (1992) |
Italy | |
| Carbone et al. (2013) |
Japan | |
| 島倉広至 et al. (2015) |
| Sakurai & Kato (1965) +1 other reference |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Amer.Min. (1960) |
| Switzer et al. (1960) |
| In the collection of Brent Thorne. ... | |
| Desor (06/2021) |
Romania | |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2009) |
Russia | |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2009) |
| Nikolaev et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
| Zelenski et al. (2020) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Analysis performed at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Ignacio Gaspar) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +1 other reference | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) +1 other reference |
| Sauktown Sales |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Am Min 49:1143-1145 +1 other reference | |
| self-collected (Paul Hlava) +1 other reference |
| Coolbaugh et al. (2020) |
| Chuck Adan Collection |
| XRD analyzed by Dr. Rob Bowell. |
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Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Moctezuma Municipality, Sonora, Mexico