Tellurite
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Formula:
TeO2
Colour:
White to yellow, bright yellow to orange-yellow; nearly colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
5.88 - 5.92
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for its tellurium content.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Tellurite.
Classification of Tellurite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/D.15-30
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
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
4.4.6.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
7.17.2
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
17 : Oxides of Se and Te
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
17 : Oxides of Se and Te
Physical Properties of Tellurite
Sub-Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White to yellow, bright yellow to orange-yellow; nearly colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}.
Perfect on {010}.
Density:
5.88 - 5.92 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tellurite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 2.000 nβ = 2.180 nγ = 2.350
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.350
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Chemical Properties of Tellurite
Formula:
TeO2
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Tellurite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.6 Å, b = 12.03 Å, c = 5.46 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.466 : 1 : 0.454
Unit Cell V:
367.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Acicular [001] and thin laths {010}, often striated [001]. Grouped in tufts and in spherical masses with a radiated structure. Powdery coatings.
Type Occurrence of Tellurite
Synonyms of Tellurite
Other Language Names for Tellurite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| Spiroffite | 11 photos of Tellurite associated with Spiroffite on mindat.org. |
| Paratellurite | 7 photos of Tellurite associated with Paratellurite on mindat.org. |
| Tellurium | 6 photos of Tellurite associated with Tellurium on mindat.org. |
| Denningite | 5 photos of Tellurite associated with Denningite on mindat.org. |
| Zemannite | 5 photos of Tellurite associated with Zemannite on mindat.org. |
| Quartz | 4 photos of Tellurite associated with Quartz on mindat.org. |
| Mroseite | 3 photos of Tellurite associated with Mroseite on mindat.org. |
| Winstanleyite | 1 photo of Tellurite associated with Winstanleyite on mindat.org. |
| Emmonsite | 1 photo of Tellurite associated with Emmonsite on mindat.org. |
| Protojoséite | 1 photo of Tellurite associated with Protojoséite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
| 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.25 | Paratellurite | 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 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
| 7.17.1 | Downeyite | SeO2 |
| 7.17.3 | Paratellurite | TeO2 |
| 7.17.4 | Chiluite | Bi3Te6+Mo6+O10.5 |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
| 4.4.6.2 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
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.
References for Tellurite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
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
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3905.html
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Localities for Tellurite
This 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.
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 for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.
Canada | |
| Ames, D.E., Kjarsgaard, I.M., and Douma, S.L., (2003), Sudbury Ni-Cu-PGE Ore Mineralogy Compilation: Sudbury Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI): Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 1787 |
| D. C. Harris, W. D. Sinclair, and R. I. Thorpe (1983) Telluride minerals from the Ashley Deposit, Bannockburn Township, Ontario. Can Mineral 21: 137-143 |
Chile | |
| M.Dini collectioni - analysed with EDX, PDf & microprobe (by dr. Jochen Schluter); Deyell, C. L., Rye, R. O., Landis, G. P., & Bissig, T. (2005). Alunite and the role of magmatic fluids in the Tambo high-sulfidation deposit, El Indio–Pascua belt, Chile. Chemical Geology, 215(1), 185-218. |
| Back, M.E., Grice, J.D., Gault, R.A., Criddle, A.J. & Mandarino, J.A. (1999): Walfordite, a new tellurite from the Wendy open pit, El Indio - Tambo mining property, Chile. Canadian Mineralogist 37, 1261-1268. | |
China | |
| Jiuling Li, Makovicky, E., Rose Hansen, J., Petersen, S.B., Feng Qi, Yanhe Cui, and Qingsheng Xu (2001): Geoscience 15(2), 189-196 |
Czech Republic | |
| Vogl (1857) Gangverhaltn. und Mineralreich, Joachimsthal, Teplitz: 169; Palache et al (1951), Dana's System of Mineralogiy, 7th. ed., Vol. 2: 262. |
France | |
| Laurent, H. (1995) - Minéralisations des houillères embrasées, Le Règne Minéral,(2), 41-45. |
| Patrice Queneau Collection |
Hungary | |
| |
Japan | |
| 井伊博行, & 岡田昭彦. (1991). 北海道札幌市小別沢鉱山産のテルル鉱物 (Poughite, Frohbergite, Melonite) について. 鉱物学雜誌, 20(3), 89-92. |
| 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. |
| (Masutomi Museum specimen, Kyoto; Yamada, S. (2004) Nihonsan-koubutsu Gojuon-hairetsu Sanchi-ichiranhyou (111 pp.) |
| Yamada, S. (2004) Nihonsankoubutsu Gojuonhairetsu sanchi-ichiranhyou. p 60. | |
Mexico | |
| J F Carpenter |
| Panczner(1987):108-401. |
| No reference listed | |
| Lapis 2001(1), 11-40 | |
Myanmar | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data, Sieghard Ellenberger specimens |
Poland | |
| Parafiniuk J. 2003: Secondary bismuth and tellurium minerals from Rędziny (SW Poland). Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 34, no.2, 3-14 |
Romania (TL) | |
| Dana 4:502 |
| Andrei Ionuț Apopei, Gheorghe Damian, Nicolae Buzgar, Andrei Buzatu (2016): Mineralogy and geochemistry of Pb–Sb/As-sulfosalts from Coranda-Hondol ore deposit (Romania) — Conditions of telluride deposition. Ore Geology Reviews 72, 857-873. |
| No reference listed | |
| Cook, N. J., & Ciobanu, C. L. (2003). Cervelleite, Ag4TeS, from three localities in Romania, substitution of Cu, and the occurrence of the associated phase, Ag2Cu2TeS. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie-Monatshefte, 2003(7), 321-336. |
Russia | |
| Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow |
| 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] |
| Dana 7:I:594. |
| P.M. Kartashov data |
USA | |
| [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. | |
| Dana 7:I:594 & Dana 6:1089. |
| Note from mine geologist, 2005. Richard Smith Collection |
| Dana 6:11 & Dana 7:I:594. |
| Dana 6: 11, 980; Dana 7:I: 594. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels |
| Dana 7:I:199,594 & II:508. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| Dana 7:I:446, 476; Dana 6:114, 1091; Neues Jahrb. Mineral. Mon.:555-576 (1992). |
| Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185 |
| Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185 | |
| Min Rec 36:2 pp143-185; USGS Professional Paper 54 | |
| 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 | |
| NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996 |
| SDSMT Bull 18 Roberts and Rapp "Mineralogy of the Black Hills" |
| SEM EDS confirmed by Rob Bowell. |
Uzbekistan | |
| Evseev, A. A. (1995) Kazaknstan and Middle Asia. A brief Mineralogical Guide. World of Stone 8:24-30; Plotinskaya, O. Y., Kovalenker, V. A., Seltmann, R., & Stanley, C. J. (2006). Te and Se mineralogy of the high-sulfidation Kochbulak and Kairagach epithermal gold telluride deposits (Kurama Ridge, Middle Tien Shan, Uzbekistan). Mineralogy and Petrology, 87(3-4), 187-207. |
Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico