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Tellurite

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

Show Tellurite Photos (31)
Formula:
TeO
 
2
System:OrthorhombicColour:White to yellow, bright ...
Lustre:Sub-AdamantineHardness:2
Name:Named for its tellurium content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tellurite.

Classification of Tellurite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.15-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DE.20

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
Dana 8th edition ID:4.4.6.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.17.2

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
17 : Oxides of Se and Te
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Type Occurrence of Tellurite

Type Locality:Faţa Băii (Facebánya), Zlatna (Zalatna; Zalathna), Alba Co., Romania
Year of Discovery:1842

Physical Properties of Tellurite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White to yellow, bright yellow to orange-yellow; nearly colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {010}.
Density (measured):5.88 - 5.92 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.83 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tellurite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.6Å, b = 12.03Å, c = 5.46Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.466 : 1 : 0.454
Unit Cell Volume:V 367.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Acicular [001] and thin laths {010}, often striated [001]. Grouped in ufts and in spherical masses with a radiated structure. Powdery coatings.

Optical Data of Tellurite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 2.000 nβ = 2.180 nγ = 2.350
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.350

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

Chemical Properties of Tellurite

Formula:
TeO
 
2
Essential elements:O, Te
All elements listed in formula:O, Te
CAS Registry number:7446-07-3

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Relationship of Tellurite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DE.05Downeyite
SeO
 
2
4.DE.10Koragoite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(Nb,Mn)
 
2
(W,Ta)
 
2
O
 
20
4.DE.15Koechlinite
(BiO)
 
2
[MoO
 
4
]
4.DE.15Russellite
(BiO)
 
2
[WO
 
4
]
4.DE.15Tungstibite
Sb
 
2
WO
 
6
4.DE.25Paratellurite
TeO
 
2
4.DE.30Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
4.DE.30Bismutocolumbite
Bi(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
4.DE.30Cervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DE.30Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
4.DE.30Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
4.DE.30Clinocervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DE.35Baddeleyite
ZrO
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.17.1Downeyite
SeO
 
2
7.17.3Paratellurite
TeO
 
2
7.17.4Chiluite
Bi
 
6
Mo
 
2
Te
 
2
O
 
21

Other Names for Tellurite

Synonyms:
Tellurige SäureTellurocker
Other Languages:
French:Acide tellurique
German:Tellurit
Japanese:テルル石
Russian:Теллурит
Spanish:Tellurita

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.
External LinksSearch for toxicity information at the United States National Library of Medicine

References for Tellurite

Reference List:Petz, W. (1842), Ann. Phys. Chem., 57, 478 (as tellurige Säure).

Krenner (1886), Term. Füz.: 10: 81, 106.

Ito (1933), Journal Geol. Soc. Tokyo: 40: 613.

Kato, Shibata, and Nakamoto (1933), Journal Geol. Soc. Tokyo: 40: 233.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 593-595.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 124: 228-237.

Journal of the Mineral Society of Japan (1981): 15: 6.

Internet Links for Tellurite

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    Localities for Tellurite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Chile
     
    • Coquimbo Region
      • Elqui Province
        • El Indio deposit
    		M.Dini collectioni - analysed with EDX, PDf & microprobe (by dr. Jochen Schluter)
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
            • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal)
    		Vogl (1857) Gangverhaltn. und Mineralreich, Joachimsthal, Teplitz: 169; Palache et al (1951), Dana's System of Mineralogiy, 7th. ed., Vol. 2: 262.
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Lozère
        • Estables
    		Patrice Queneau Collection
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Loire
        • Saint-Etienne
    		Laurent, H. (1995) - Minéralisations des houillères embrasées, Le Règne Minéral,(2), 41-45.
    Hungary
     
    • Heves Co.
      • Mátra Mts.
        • Gyöngyössolymos
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Sapporo
        • Teine mine
    		Zemann, A., and Zemann, J. (1960): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 7, 436-438.; Yosimura, T. (1939): Teineite, a new tellurate mineral from the Teine mine, Hokkaido, Japan. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. IV 4, 465.
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Shizuoka Prefecture
          • Shimoda City
            • Rendaiji
    		(Masutomi Museum specimen, Kyoto; also widely distributed in private collections in Japan)
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
        • Moctezuma
    		Panczner(1987):108-401.
    No reference listed
    Lapis 2001(1), 11-40
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
      • Rudawy Janowickie Mts
        • Czarnów
          • Rędziny
    		Parafiniuk J. 2003: Secondary bismuth and tellurium minerals from Rędziny (SW Poland). Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 34, no.2, 3-14
    Romania
     
    • Alba Co.
      • Zlatna (Zalatna; Zalathna)
    		Dana 4:502
    • Hunedoara Co.
    		No reference listed
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Tuva Republic
        • Sayan Mts
          • Eastern Sayan
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    		V.A. Kovalenker, O.Yu. Plotinskaya (2005): Te and Se mineralogy of Ozernovskoe and Prasolovskoe epithermal gold deposits, Kuril – Kamchatka volcanic belt. Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology 43, 118-123. [http://www.geology.bas.bg/mineralogy/gmp_files/gmp43/Kovalenker.pdf]
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche)
          • Nikolaevskoe Pb-Zn-Ag deposit
    		Dana 7:I:594.
      • Sakhalinskaya Oblast'
        • Kuril Islands
          • Kunashir Island
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
    		[MinRec 24:421]
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 389; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    • Colorado
      • Boulder Co.
        • Balarat District
    		Dana 7:I:594 & Dana 6:1089.
        • Gold Hill District
          • Gold Hill
    		Note from mine geologist, 2005. Richard Smith Collection
        • Magnolia District
    		Dana 6:11 & Dana 7:I:594.
    Dana 6: 11, 980; Dana 7:I: 594.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
        • Sugarloaf District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
      • Gunnison Co.
        • Vulcan District
    		Dana 7:I:199,594 & II:508.
      • Hinsdale Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
      • San Juan Co.
        • Silverton District
          • Poughkeepsie Gulch
    		Dana 7:I:446, 476; Dana 6:114, 1091; Neues Jahrb. Mineral. Mon.:555-576 (1992).
      • Teller Co.
        • Cripple Creek District
    		Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185
    Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185
    Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
        • Goldfield District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    No reference listed
    NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Catron Co.
        • Wilcox District
          • Lone Pine Hill area
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    • South Dakota
      • Custer Co.
        • Custer District
    		SDSMT Bull 18 Roberts and Rapp "Mineralogy of the Black Hills"
    • Utah
      • Utah Co.
        • East Tintic Mts
          • East Tintic District
    		SEM EDS verified by Rob Bowles
    Mineral and/or Locality
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