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Tlalocite

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Rare and complex tellurate mineral
Tlalocite
Tlalocite spherules from Bambollita Mine (Oriental Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico (picture width: 3 mm).
General
CategoryMineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		Cu10Zn6(TeO4)2(TeO3)(OH)25Cl · 25 H2O
IMA symbolTia
Strunz classification7.DE.20
Dana classification33.3.2.1
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Unknown space group
Unit cella = 16.78, b = 19.985
c = 12.069 , Z = 4
Identification
ColorCapri blue, green in transmitted light
Crystal habitVelvety crusts or spheres, arced bands
FractureSectile, curved shavings or scrapings
TenacityGummy and sectile
Mohs scale hardness1
StreakPale blue
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity4.55 (measured) 4.58 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Birefringenceδ = 0.052
PleochroismGreen, bluish green
2V angle64
Ultraviolet fluorescencenone
SolubilityInsoluble
References

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. It is not to be confused with quetzalcoatlite, which often looks similar in color and habit.

Occurrence

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.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. "Tlalocite: Tlalocite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  3. Barthelmy, Dave. "Tlalocite Mineral Data". www.webmineral.com. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  4. "Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  5. Williams, S.A. (1975). "Xocomecatlite, Cu3TeO4(OH)4, and tlalocite, Cu10Zn6(TeO3)(TeO4)2CI(OH)25 . 27 H2O, two new minerals from Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 40 (311). doi:10.1180/minmag.1975.040.311.01. S2CID 128636728. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
Selenites, selenates, tellurites, and tellurates
Hey classification (3rd edition) 28
Selenites 28.1Ahlfeldite Chalcomenite Clinochalcomenite Cobaltomenite Demesmaekerite Derriksite Francisite Guilleminite Haynesite Mandarinoite Marthozite Molybdomenite Sofiite
Selenates 28.2Olsacherite Schmiederite
Tellurites 28.3Balyakinite 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 28.4Carlfriesite Cheremnykhite Cuzticite Dugganite Girdite Khinite Khinite-3T Kuksite Kuranakhite Montanite Oboyerite Schieffelinite Tlalocite Tlapallite Xocomecatlite Yafsoanite Yecoraite


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