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Formula: BiTe
Telluride,
tetradymite group
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 8.16 measured, 8.23 calculated
Hardness: 2½ to 3
Streak: Steel-grey
Colour: Silver-white
Common impurities: Pb
Environments
Tsumoite occurs in massive
nickel–copper–platinum
group element deposits and in
copper–zinc–lead deposits.
Associated minerals include pentlandite,
chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite,
sperrylite, parkerite,
maucherite, michenerite,
tetradymite, pilsenite,
cosalite, altaite,
bismuthinite and galena
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, the Tsumo mine, Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, tsumoite occurs as irregular aggregates to 1 cm in a
clinopyroxene-garnet-quartz
skarn. Associated minerals include tetradymite,
galena, cosalite and
bismuthinite
(AM 63.1162-1165, Mindat).
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