Coloradoite from the La Plata District of Colorado
General
Category
Telluride mineral
Formula (repeating unit)
HgTe
IMA symbol
Clr[1]
Strunz classification
2.CB.05a
Crystal system
Cubic
Crystal class
Hextetrahedral (43m) H–M Symbol: (4 3m)
Space group
F43m
Unit cell
a = 6.453 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color
Iron-black inclining to gray
Crystal habit
Massive, granular
Fracture
Uneven to subconchordial
Tenacity
Brittle
Mohs scale hardness
2.5
Luster
Bright metallic
Streak
Black
Diaphaneity
Opaque
Specific gravity
8.10
References
[2][3][4]
Coloradoite, also known as mercury telluride (HgTe), is a rare telluride ore associated with metallic deposit (especially gold and silver). Gold usually occurs within tellurides, such as coloradoite, as a high-finess native metal.[5]
The quest for mining led to the discovery of telluride ores which were found to be associated with metals. Tellurides are ingrown into ores containing these precious metals and are also responsible for a significant amount of these metals being produced. Coloradoite, a member of the coordination subclass of tellurides, is a covalent compound that is isostructural with sphalerite (ZnS).[6] Its chemical properties are highly instrumental in distinguishing it from other tellurides. It was first discovered in Colorado in 1877. Since then, other deposits have been found. Although it plays an important role in the geology of minerals, it can also be used for other purposes.
^Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A; Bkadh, Kenneth W. and Nichols, Monte C. (1990) "Coloradoite" in Handbook of Mineralogy. Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts. Mineral Data Publishing. Tucson, Arizona. p. 105. ISBN 0962209708.
^Coloradoite. Mindat.org
^Coloradoite. Webmineral
^
Fadda, S., Fiori, M., Silvana and Grillo, M. (2005). "Chemical variations in tetrahedrite – tennantite minerals from the Furtei epithermal Au deposit, Sardinia, Italy: Mineral zoning and ore fluids evolution" (PDF). Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology. 43. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences: 79–84.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Povarennykh, A. S (1972). Crystal Chemical classification of minerals. Vol I, pp. 120–121
Coloradoite, also known as mercury telluride (HgTe), is a rare telluride ore associated with metallic deposit (especially gold and silver). Gold usually...
and mercury(II) telluride. HgTe occurs in nature as the mineral form coloradoite. All properties are at standard temperature and pressure unless stated...