Cesbronite
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About Cesbronite
Formula:
Cu2+3Te6+O4(OH)4
Formula redefined 2017 (IMA 17-C).
Hardness:
3
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1974 by Sidney Arthur Williams in honor of Fabien P. Cesbron [1938 France - ], French mineralogist with the Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Miniere, BRGM, Orleans. France.
Redefined in September 2017 as containing Te6+ not Te4+ (Missen et al., 2018). The originally assumed formula was Cu5(Te4+O3)2(OH)6 · 2H2O.
Note: consequently its current placement within the Strunz and Dana tables is now incorrect.
Note: consequently its current placement within the Strunz and Dana tables is now incorrect.
Classification of Cesbronite
Approved
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
First published:
1974
Approval history:
Approved by IMA 1974.
Redefined by IMA 2017 (Proposal 17-C), as Cu2+Te6+O4(OH)4
Redefined by IMA 2017 (Proposal 17-C), as Cu2+Te6+O4(OH)4
4/K.06-30
4.JN.15
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
N : Tellurites with additional anions, with H2O
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
N : Tellurites with additional anions, with H2O
Dana 7th ed.:
33.2.8.1
34.7.2.1
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
7 : Hydrated Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
7 : Hydrated Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
28.3.5
28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
3 : Tellurites
28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
3 : Tellurites
Physical Properties of Cesbronite
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Cesbronite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.880 nβ = 1.928 nγ = 2.029
2V:
Measured: 72° , Calculated: 74°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.149

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:
r > v
Chemical Properties of Cesbronite
Formula:
Cu2+3Te6+O4(OH)4
Formula redefined 2017 (IMA 17-C).
Formula redefined 2017 (IMA 17-C).
IMA Formula:
Cu3Te6+O4(OH)4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cesbronite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmcm
Setting:
Cmcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 2.93172 (16) Å, b = 11.8414(6) Å, c = 8.6047(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.248 : 1 : 0.727
Unit Cell V:
298.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Type Occurrence of Cesbronite
Reference:
Williams, S.A. (1974) Cesbronite, a new copper tellurite from Moctezuma, Sonora. Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 744-746.
Synonyms of Cesbronite
Other Language Names for Cesbronite
German:Cesbronit
Spanish:Cesbronita
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
28.3.1 | Balyakinite | Cu(TeO3) | Orth. |
28.3.2 | Rajite | Cu(Te4+2O5) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
28.3.3 | Graemite | Cu[TeO3] · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmma |
28.3.4 | Teineite | Cu2+(Te4+O3) · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
28.3.6 | Mroseite | CaTe4+(CO3)O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
28.3.7 | Quetzalcoatlite | Zn6Cu3(TeO6)2(OH)6 · AgxPbyClx+2y | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
28.3.8 | Zemannite | Mg0.5ZnFe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
28.3.9 | Kinichilite | Mg0.5Mn2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
28.3.10 | Denningite | (Mn2+,Ca,Zn)Te4+2O5 | Tet. |
28.3.11 | Spiroffite | Mn2+2Te4+3O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
28.3.12 | Winstanleyite | TiTe4+3O8 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Ia3 |
28.3.13 | Fairbankite | Pb2+12(Te4+O3)11(SO4) | Tric. |
28.3.14 | Plumbotellurite | Pb(TeO3) | Orth. |
28.3.15 | Choloalite | (Cu,Sb)3(Pb,Ca)3(TeO3)6Cl | Iso. 4 3 2 : P41 3 2 |
28.3.16 | Smirnite | Bi2Te4+O5 | Orth. mm2 |
28.3.17 | Chekhovichite | Bi2Te4+4O11 | Mon. 2/m |
28.3.18 | Cliffordite | (UO2)Te4+3O7 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
28.3.19 | Schmitterite | (UO2)(TeO3) | Orth. |
28.3.20 | Moctezumite | Pb(UO2)(TeO3)2 | Mon. |
28.3.21 | Emmonsite | Fe3+2(TeO3)3 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
28.3.22 | Blakeite | Fe3+2[TeO3]3 (?) | |
28.3.23 | Mackayite | Fe3+(Te4+2O5)(OH) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/acd |
28.3.24 | Poughite | Fe3+2(TeO3)2(SO4)(H2O)2 · H2O | Orth. |
28.3.25 | Sonoraite | Fe3+(TeO3)(OH) · H2O | Mon. |
28.3.26 | Rodalquilarite | Fe2(TeO2OH)3(TeO3)Cl | Tric. 1 : P1 |
28.3.27 | Eztlite | Pb2+2Fe3+3(Te4+ O3)3(SO4)O2Cl | Mon. m : Bm |
28.3.28 | Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O | Hex. |
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 Cesbronite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Williams, S.A. (1974) Cesbronite, a new copper tellurite from Moctezuma, Sonora. Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 744-746.
Fleischer, M., Mandarino, J.A., Chao, G.Y. (1979) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 64: 652-659.
Canadian Mineralogist: 34: 49-54, 55-59.
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S.J. (2017) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) Newsletter 39. New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2017. Mineralogical Magazine: 81: 1279-1286.
Missen, O.P., Mills, S.J., Welch, M.D., Spratt, J., Rumsey, M.S., Birch, W.D., Brugger, J. (2018) The crystal structure of cesbronite, Cu3TeO4(OH)4: a novel sheet tellurate topology. Acta Crystallographica: B74: 24-31.
Internet Links for Cesbronite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-940.html
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Localities for Cesbronite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Mexico (TL) | |
| Williams, S.A. (1974) Cesbronite, a new copper tellurite from Moctezuma, Sonora. Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 744-746.; Panczner, W.D. (1987) Minerals of Mexico. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 459 pages. |
USA | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 159. |
| [MinRec 27:464] |
Centennial Eureka Mine, Eureka, Juab Co., Utah, USA