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Tellurite (mineral)

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Tellurite
Tellurite from the Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
General
CategoryOxide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
TeO2
Strunz classification4.DE.20
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPbca
Unit cella = 5.6 Å, b = 12.03 Å
c = 5.46 Å; Z = 8
Identification
ColorYellow to white
Crystal habitFlattened prismatic to acicular crystals, radiating groups; powdery, massive
CleavagePerfect on {010}
TenacityFlexible
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterSub-adamantine
DiaphaneityTransparent to opaque
Specific gravity5.88 - 5.92
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 2.000 nβ = 2.180 nγ = 2.350
Birefringenceδ = 0.350
SolubilitySleight in water
References[1][2][3]

Tellurite is a rare oxide mineral composed of tellurium dioxide (TeO2).

It occurs as prismatic to acicular transparent yellow to white orthorhombic crystals. It occurs in the oxidation zone of mineral deposits in association with native tellurium, emmonsite and other tellurium minerals. Its name comes from Tellus, which is the Latin name for the planet Earth.[2][3]

It was first described in 1842 for an occurrence in Faţa Băii, Zlatna, Alba County, Romania.[3]

References