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Formula: TeO2
Simple oxide, rutile group, tetragonal
paramorph of orthorhombic
tellurite, commonly
forms pseudomorphs after
tellurite
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 5.60 measured, 6.017 calculated
Hardness: 1
Streak: White
Colour: Greyish white, pale yellow, creamy yellow
Environments
Localities
There are two co-type localities, the Santa Rosa mine, Cananea, Cananea Municipality, and the Moctezuma mine, Moctezuma,
Moctezuma Municipality, both at Sonora, Mexico. Here paratellurite occurs as a black oxidation rind around masses
of native tellurium; the black colour is due to finely included
tellurium. Paratellurite also occurs as waxy honey-coloured
coatings on fractures in native tellurium, and as
pseudomorphs after later
tellurite at some distance from the
tellurium masses
(Dana, AM 45.1272-1274).
At the Moctezuma mine paratellurite occurs as thin seams in tellurium
from a hydrothermal gold-tellurium
deposit, associated with tellurite and
tellurium
(HOM).
Paratellurite from the Moctezuma Mine -
Image
At the Joe mine, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, paratellurite is associated with
krennerite, tellurium,
rodalquilarite, emmonsite
and anglesite
(HOM).
At the Tintic Mining District, Utah, USA, paratellurite, a very rare mineral in the district, occurs as 1 mm sized,
cream-coloured, opaque crystals at the Trixie mine, together with tiny crystals of an unidentified
tellurium mineral. It is also reported to occur at the North Star mine,
known in just a few specimens
(MinRec 55.2.216-217)
Paratellurite from Tintic - Image
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