Tellurite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Tellurite
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.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Tellurite.
Classification of Tellurite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1842
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(5) nβ = 2.180(2) nγ = 2.350(2)
2V:
Measured: 90°
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, r < v
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.
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
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0018058 | Tellurite | Ito T, Sawada H (1940) The crystal structure of tellurite (Te O2) _cod_database_code 1011183 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 102 13-25 | 1940 | 0 | 293 | ||
0010638 | Tellurite | Beyer H (1967) Verfeinerung der kristallstruktur von tellurit, dem rhomischen TeO2 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 124 228-237 | ![]() | 1967 | Moctezuma, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.280 Å | (100) |
3.723 Å | (95) |
3.008 Å | (50) |
2.730 Å | (45) |
2.800 Å | (25) |
2.298 Å | (25) |
1.930 Å | (25) |
Type Occurrence of Tellurite
Reference:
Petz, W. (1842) Zerlegung einiger Siebenbürger Tellur-Erze. Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 57: 467-478 (478).
Synonyms of Tellurite
Other Language Names for Tellurite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
11 photos of Tellurite associated with Spiroffite | Mn2+2Te4+3O8 |
7 photos of Tellurite associated with Paratellurite | TeO2 |
6 photos of Tellurite associated with Tellurium | Te |
5 photos of Tellurite associated with Denningite | (Mn2+,Ca,Zn)Te4+2O5 |
5 photos of Tellurite associated with Zemannite | Mg0.5ZnFe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
4 photos of Tellurite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
3 photos of Tellurite associated with Mroseite | CaTe4+(CO3)O2 |
1 photo of Tellurite associated with Winstanleyite | TiTe4+3O8 |
1 photo of Tellurite associated with Emmonsite | Fe3+2(TeO3)3 · 2H2O |
1 photo of Tellurite associated with Protojoséite | Bi3(Te,S)2 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.DE.05 | Downeyite | SeO2 | Tet. |
4.DE.10 | Koragoite | (Mn2+,Fe3+)3(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(Nb,Mn)2(W,Ta)2O20 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
4.DE.15 | Koechlinite | Bi2MoO6 | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
4.DE.15 | Russellite | Bi2WO6 | Orth. |
4.DE.15 | Tungstibite | Sb3+2WO6 | Orth. 2 2 2 |
4.DE.25 | Paratellurite | TeO2 | Tet. |
4.DE.30 | Bismutotantalite | Bi(Ta,Nb)O4 | Orth. |
4.DE.30 | Bismutocolumbite | Bi(Nb,Ta)O4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.DE.30 | Cervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 | Orth. |
4.DE.30 | Stibiotantalite | Sb(Ta,Nb)O4 | Orth. mm2 |
4.DE.30 | Stibiocolumbite | Sb(Nb,Ta)O4 | Orth. mm2 |
4.DE.30 | Clinocervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 | Mon. |
4.DE.35 | Baddeleyite | ZrO2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
4.4.6.2 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
7.17.1 | Downeyite | SeO2 | Tet. |
7.17.3 | Paratellurite | TeO2 | Tet. |
7.17.4 | Chiluite | Bi3Te6+Mo6+O10.5 | Hex. |
Other Information
Notes:
Very slightly soluble in H2O.
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) Zerlegung einiger Siebenbürger Tellur-Erze. Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 57: 467-478 (478). (as tellurige Säure)
Haidinger, W. (1845) Zweite Klasse: Geogenide. II. Ordnung. Baryte. VIII. Antimonbaryt. Tellurit.. in Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Bei Braumüller and Seidel (Wien): 499-506.
Genth, F.A. (1878) On some tellurium and vanadium minerals. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 17: 113-123.
Krenner, J. (1886) Term. Füz.: 10: 81, 106.
Ito, T. (1933) Journal Geological Society of Japan: 40(481): 613-616.
Kato, T., Shibata, H., Nakamoto, A. (1933) On the telluriferous gold silver vein of the Rendaiji mine, Idu, with a special referenees to tellurite found in it. Journal Geological Society of Japan: 40: 233-241. (in Japanese)
Inuzuka, H. (1934) The crystal structure of Tellurite, TeO2. Journal Geological Society of Japan: 41: 131-138. (in Japanese)
Ito, T., Sawada, H. (1940) The Crystal Structure of Tellurite (TeO2). Zeitschrift für Kristallographie-Crystalline Materials: 102(1): 13-25.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (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.
Stehlík, B., Balák, L. (1949) The crystal structure of tellurium dioxide. Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications:14: 595-607.
Swanson, H.E. (1956) Standard X-ray Diffraction Powder Patterns: Data for 53 substances, Volume 539. 56.
Beyer, H. (1967) Verfeinerung der kristallstruktur von tellurit, dem rhombischen TeO2 (Refinement of the crystal structure of tellurite, the rhombic TeO2). Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 124: 228-237.
Honma, H., Nakata, M. (1981) Syntheses of Tellurite in the System, Tellurium Tetrachloride Ammonia Water at Room Temperature. Journal of the Mineral Society of Japan: 15(1): 1-9 (6).
Christy, A.G., Mills, S.J., Kampf, A.R., Housley, R.M., Thorne, B., Marty, J. (2016) The relationship between mineral composition, crystal structure and paragenetic sequence: the case of secondary Te mineralization at the Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, California, USA. Mineralogical Magazine: 80: 291-310.
Internet Links for Tellurite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3905.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Tellurite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Auer, C. (2019): Die Mineralien der Wolfsgrube bei Seiz im Liesingtal. Der Steirische Mineralog, 34, 5-11. |
| Auer, Ch. (2019): 2136) Seltene Erzeinschlüsse vom Manganvorkommen bei Dürnstein in der Steiermark - ein Vorbericht. p. 298-301 in Walter, F. et al. (2019): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich LXVIII. Carinthia II, 209./129., 237-326. |
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 |
| Kjarsgaard, I. M., & Ames, D. E. (2010, June). Ore mineralogy of Cu-Ni-PGE deposits in the North Range footwall environment, Sudbury, Canada. In 11th international platinum symposium, program abstracts, Ontario Geological Survey, miscellaneous release-data (Vol. 269). |
| 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.; Cooper, M. A., Hawthorne, F. C., Abdu, Y. A., Walford, P. C., & Back, M. E. (2019). Relative humidity as a driver of structural change in three new ferric-sulfate-tellurite hydrates: New minerals tamboite and metatamboite, and a lower-hydrate derivative, possibly involving direct uptake of atmospheric {H2O} 4 clusters. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57(5), 605-635. | |
China | |
| Jiuling Li, Makovicky, E., Rose Hansen, J., Petersen, S.B., Feng Qi, Yanhe Cui, and Qingsheng Xu (2001): Geoscience 15(2), 189-196 |
| Li, G., Xue, Y., & Xiong, M. (2019). Tewite: AK–Te–W new mineral species with a modified tungsten-bronze type structure, from the Panzhihua-Xichang region, southwest China. European Journal of Mineralogy, 31(1), 145-152. |
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. |
島倉広至, 三浦貴生, 浜根大輔, 松枝大治, & 三浦裕行. (2015). 北海道手稲鉱山産 Te, Bi, As 鉱物. 北海道大学地球物理学研究報告, 78, 19-35. | |
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, W.D. (1987) Minerals of Mexico. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 459 pages. |
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 |
Stephan Wolfsried photo. | |
| 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 | |
| Nikolaev, Y. N., Prokof’ev, V. Y., Apletalin, A. V., Vlasov, E. A., Baksheev, I. A., Kal’ko, I. A., & Komarova, Y. S. (2013). Gold-telluride mineralization of the Western Chukchi Peninsula, Russia: mineralogy, geochemistry, and formation conditions. Geology of Ore Deposits, 55(2), 96-124. |
| 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 |
| Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow |
Spain | |
| Analysis performed at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Ignacio Gaspar). |
USA | |
| Graeme, R. (1993) Bisbee revisited. The Mineralogical Record: 24: 421-436. |
Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 389; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436. | |
| MarekC collection, 2017 |
| 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. Eckel | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckel |
| 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 |
Collected by Dan Evanich in 2019. Visual identification based on presence of associated goldfieldite in the same host matrix, a confirmed tellurium species from The Florence Mine. | |
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" |
| Raudsepp, M., Coolbaugh, M.F., McCormack, J.K., Czech, E. and McMillan, R. (2019) Andymcdonaldite, IMA 2018-141. CNMNC Newsletter No. 49, June 2019, page xxx; Mineralogical Magazine, 83: 323–328. |
Coolbaugh, M.F., McCormack, J.K., Raudsepp, M., Czech, E., McMillan, R., and Kampf, A.R., 2020, Andymcdonaldite (Fe3+2Te6+O6), a new ferric iron tellurate with inverse trirutile structure from the Detroit district, Juab County, Utah: Canadian Mineralogist, v. 58, p. 85-97. | |
| Collected by and in the collection of Brent Thorne. |
| Chuck Adan collection |
Collected by and in the collection of Brent Thorne. Raman analyzed by Bob Housley. | |
| 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. |
Quick NavTopAbout TelluriteClassification Physical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesNickel-StrunzDanaHey's CIMOther InformationReferences Internet Links Localities Locality List
Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Moctezuma Municipality, Sonora, Mexico