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Rajite, naturally occurring cupric pyrotellurite, a new mineral

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

S. A. Williams*
Affiliation:
Phelps Dodge Corporation, Douglas AZ 85607 USA

Summary

Rajite was found at Lone Pine, New Mexico, by R. A. Jenkins. It occurs as small (1.5 mm) crystals in rhyolite with mackayite, and may be a pseudomorph after teineite. Analysis gave CuO 18.4, 15.3, 18.0; TeO2 73.7, 79.8, 79.1; rem. (respectively) 7.9, 2.4, 2.3. Some CaO in samples 2 and 3: 2.5, 0.6%. This gives CuTe2O5, identical to the artificial compound prepared by Moret et al. (1969). Easily soluble in dilute acids; readily fusible.

Monoclinic P21/c with a = 6.866 Å, b = 9.314, c = 7.598, β = 109.1°. Strongest lines 3.064(10), 4.654(8), 3.348(8), 3.111(7), 2.744(7), 3.793(6B), 2.844(5), 2.796(5). With Z = 4, ρcalc = 5.77 g/cm3.

Crystals Duesbury green (RHS-131D), H = 4, ρmeas = 5.75 g/cm3. Pleochroic in greens γ > β > α; α = 2.115, β = 2.135, ‖ [010], γ = 2.26, α:[001] 22° in obtuse β, 2Vγ = 40°.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1979

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References

Ballmer, (G. J.), 1932. Am. Mineral. 17, 491-2.Google Scholar
Moret, (J.), Philippot, (P.), and Maurin, (M.), 1969. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 269, 123-5.Google Scholar