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Quetzalcoatlite

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Bambollita Mine (Oriental Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
© Christian Rewitzer

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Formula:
Zn
 
6
Cu
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · Ag
 
x
Pb
 
y
Cl
 
x+2y
System:TrigonalColour:Blue
Hardness:3
Name:
Named after Quetzalcoatl, the Toltec and Aztec god of the sea. In allusion to it's color.


May be confused with tlalocite.

Classification of Quetzalcoatlite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/K.10-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FE.45

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
E : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:34.6.3.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
6 : Anhydrous Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.3.7

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

Type Locality:Bambollita Mine (Oriental Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian 135055
Year of Discovery:1973
Geological Setting of type material:Oxidation zone of tellurium bearing hydrothermal deposit.

Occurrences of Quetzalcoatlite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zone of tellurium bearing hydrothermal deposit.

Physical Properties of Quetzalcoatlite

Lustre:Pearly, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Blue
Streak:Pale blue, almost white
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
fair on {1010}
Density (measured):6.05(30) g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.82 g/cm3

Crystallography of Quetzalcoatlite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:P3m1 {P3 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.145(1) Å, c = 4.9925(9) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.492
Unit Cell Volume:V 445 ų
Z:1
Morphology:Needle-like hexagonal crystals, sprays, crystalline crusts.

Optical Data of Quetzalcoatlite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.802 nε = 1.740
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.062

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Optical Extinction:Parallel - length fast
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O - blue-green
E - almost colorles

Chemical Properties of Quetzalcoatlite

Formula:
Zn
 
6
Cu
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · Ag
 
x
Pb
 
y
Cl
 
x+2y
Essential elements:Ag, Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb, Te, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Cl, Cu, H, O, Pb, Te, Zn

Relationship of Quetzalcoatlite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.FE.05Amakinite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Brucite
Mg(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Portlandite
Ca(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Pyrochroite
Mn(OH)
 
2
4.FE.05Theophrastite
Ni(OH)
 
2
4.FE.10Bayerite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Doyleite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Gibbsite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.10Nordstrandite
Al(OH)
 
3
4.FE.15Böhmite
AlO(OH)
4.FE.15Lepidocrocite
γ-Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.20Grimaldiite
CrO(OH)
4.FE.20Heterogenite
CoO(OH)
4.FE.25Feitknechtite
Mn
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.25Lithiophorite
(Al,Li)MnO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
4.FE.30Quenselite
PbMnO
 
2
(OH)
4.FE.35Ferrihydrite
Fe
3+
5
O
 
3
(OH)
 
9
4.FE.40Feroxyhyte
Fe
3+
 
O(OH)
4.FE.40Vernadite
(Mn
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ca,Na)(O,OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
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
28.3.8Zemannite
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
28.3.13Fairbankite
Pb(TeO
 
3
)
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 Quetzalcoatlite

Synonyms:
IMA1973-010
Other Languages:
German:Quetzalcoatlit
Russian:Кецалькоатлит
Spanish:Quetzalcoatlita

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 Quetzalcoatlite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1974): 59: 874.

Burns, P.C., Pluth, J.J., Smith, J.V., Eng, P., Steele, I., and Houseley, R.M. (2000) Quetzalcoatlite: a new octahedral-tetrahedral structure from a 2 x 2 x 40 um3 crystal at the Advanced Photon Source-GSE-CARS facility. American Mineralogist 85: 604-607.

Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 261-263.

Internet Links for Quetzalcoatlite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Quetzalcoatlite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Quetzalcoatlite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
    Min.Mag.(1973) 39, 261-263; Panczner(1987):136-399.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone Hills
          • Tombstone District
    		Brent Thorne
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 350; Williams, S.A. (1978), Khinite, parakhinite, and dugganite, three new tellurates from Tombstone, AZ, Am.Min.: 63: 1016-1019.; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 648–652, 2009
    • California
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Baker
    		American Mineralogist (2000): 85: 604, 607; Lapis 33 (4) (2008) 12; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1198–1204, 2009
    • Utah
      • Juab Co.
        • East Tintic Mts
          • Tintic District
    		[MinRec 27:464]
      • Utah Co.
        • East Tintic Mts
          • East Tintic District
    		SEM EDS confirmed by Rob Bowell.
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