Tlalocite | |
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General | |
Category | Mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Cu10Zn6(TeO4)2(TeO3)(OH)25Cl · 25 H2O |
IMA symbol | Tia[1] |
Strunz classification | 7.DE.20 |
Dana classification | 33.3.2.1 |
Crystal system | Orthorhombic Unknown space group |
Unit cell | a = 16.78, b = 19.985 c = 12.069 [Å], Z = 4 |
Identification | |
Color | Capri blue, green in transmitted light |
Crystal habit | Velvety crusts or spheres, arced bands |
Fracture | Sectile, curved shavings or scrapings |
Tenacity | Gummy and sectile |
Mohs scale hardness | 1 |
Streak | Pale blue |
Diaphaneity | Translucent |
Specific gravity | 4.55 (measured) 4.58 (calculated) |
Optical properties | Biaxial (-) |
Birefringence | δ = 0.052 |
Pleochroism | Green, bluish green |
2V angle | 64 |
Ultraviolet fluorescence | none |
Solubility | Insoluble |
References | [1][2][3][4] |
Tlalocite is a rare and complex tellurate mineral with the formula Cu10Zn6(TeO4)2(TeO3)(OH)25Cl · 27 H2O. It has a Mohs hardness of 1, and a cyan color. It was named after Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, in allusion to the high amount of water contained within the crystal structure.[2][3] It is not to be confused with quetzalcoatlite, which often looks similar in color and habit.
Tlalocite was first identified in the Bambollite mine (La Oriental), Moctezuma, Municipio de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico and it was approved by the IMA in 1974. It often occurs together with tenorite, azurite, malachite and tlapallite. It is found in partially oxidized portions of tellurium-bearing hydrothermal veins.[4][5]
Selenites, selenates, tellurites, and tellurates | |
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Selenites 28.1 | Ahlfeldite Chalcomenite Clinochalcomenite Cobaltomenite Demesmaekerite Derriksite Francisite Guilleminite Haynesite Mandarinoite Marthozite Molybdomenite Sofiite |
Selenates 28.2 | Olsacherite Schmiederite |
Tellurites 28.3 | Balyakinite Blakeite Cesbronite Chekhovichite Choloalite Cliffordite Denningite Emmonsite Eztlite Fairbankite Graemite Keystoneite Kinichilite Mackayite Moctezumite Mroseite Plumbotellurite Poughite Quetzalcoatlite Rajite Rodalquilarite Schmitterite Smirnite Sonoraite Spiroffite Teineite Winstanleyite Zemannite |
Tellurates 28.4 | Carlfriesite Cheremnykhite Cuzticite Dugganite Girdite Khinite Khinite-3T Kuksite Kuranakhite Montanite Oboyerite Schieffelinite Tlalocite Tlapallite Xocomecatlite Yafsoanite Yecoraite |