| Utahite | |
|---|---|
 Utahite and jarosite | |
| General | |
| Category | Tellurate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Cu5Zn3(TeO4)4(OH)8·7H2O |
| IMA symbol | Uta |
| Strunz classification | 7.DE.25 |
| Crystal system | Triclinic Unknown space group |
| Unit cell | a = 8.794 Å, b = 9.996 Å c = 5.66 Å; α = 104.1° β = 90.066°, γ = 96.3333°; Z = 1 |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 1,542.46 g/mol |
| Color | Pale blue, greenish blue |
| Crystal habit | Prismatic thin tabular to bladed crystals; as sheaves and bow tielike clusters |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | Brittle – uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4–5 |
| Luster | Vitreous to pearly |
| Streak | Pale blue |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 5.33 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.830 – 1.840 nβ = 1.830 – 1.900 nγ = 1.880 – 1.900 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.050 – 0.060 |
| Dispersion | Strong |
| References | |
Utahite is an extremely rare secondary copper zinc tellurate mineral found as a product of oxidation. Its chemical formula is Cu5Zn3(TeO4)4(OH)8·7H2O.
It was first described in 1997 for an occurrence in the Centennial Eureka mine, one mile southeast of Eureka, Tintic District, Juab County, Utah, US (type locality). The discovery site was a mine dump of a hydrothermal ore deposit where it occurs with cesbronite and quartz. It has also been reported from the Empire Mine in the Tombstone District of Cochise County, Arizona.
References
- 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.
- Utahite, Webmineral.com
- ^ Utahite, Mindat.org
- ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
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