Mineral - Altaite
Altaite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Toxicity
none
Formula
PbTe
Unit Cell
a=6.44 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
2 - 3
Streak
black
Density
Very Heavy (>6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {001}
Fracture
conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
graysilver
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
isometric
Point Group
hexoctahedral - 4/m 3 2/m
Space Group
Fm 3 m (225)
Habit
dendritic, coarse, crusty, massive
Formation
In hydrothermal Au-Te deposits
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rarely
Synonyms
Altaite
Composition
Elements
Mass
Pb
62.40
Cu
0.40
Bi
0.20
Te
37.20
Arizona (Berry & Thompson 1962)
Groups and Members
Galena-Group
Name and first find : Named after the type locality in the Altai Mountains of eastern Kazakhstan, where altaite was first discovered in 1829 by Gustav Rose during the expedition through Russia led by Alexander von Humboldt. Wilhelm Ritter von Haidinger named it Altaite in 1845.
Chemistry :
Synonyms : elasmosis, tellurium lead
Varieties :
Abbreviation : Old
literature
Berry, L.G., & Thompson, R.M. (1962). X-ray powder data for ore minerals: the Peacock atlas (Vol. 85). Geological Society of America.