Cesbronite is a copper-tellurium oxysalt mineral with the chemical formula Cu3Te6+O4(OH)4 (IMA 17-C). It is colored green and its crystals are orthorhombic dipyramidal. Cesbronite is rated 3 on the Mohs Scale.[3] It is named after Fabien Cesbron (born 1938), a French mineralogist.[4]

Cesbronite
Emerald green crystal aggregates of cesbronite from Tombstone District, Cochise County, Arizona, USA
General
CategoryCopper-tellurium oxysalt
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu3Te6+O4(OH)4
IMA symbolCes[1]
Strunz classification4.JN.15
Dana classification34.7.2.1
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPbcn
Unit cella = 8.624, b = 11.878
c = 5.872 [Å], Z = 2
Identification
ColorGreen
Cleavagepoor on {010}, good on {021}
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness3
LusterSubadamantine
StreakGreen
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity4.45 (measured)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Birefringenceδ = 0.149
PleochroismDistinct, various shades of green
2V angle72o (calculated)
Ultraviolet fluorescenceNone
SolubilitySoluble in HCl and HNO3. Insoluble in water
References[1][2][3][4][2]

Occurrence

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It was first found in the Bambollita ("La Oriental") mine in the Mexican state of Sonora. It also occurs in the Tombstone District of Cochise County, Arizona and the Tintic District of the East Tintic Mountains, Juab County, Utah.[5] It is often associated with argentian gold, teineite, carlfriesite, xocomecatlite, utahite, leisingite, jensenite and hematite.[6]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ Mineralienatlas
  3. ^ Webmineral entry
  4. ^ Williams, Sidney A. (1974). "Cesbronite, a new copper tellurite from Moctezuma, Sonora" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 39 (307): 744. Bibcode:1974MinM...39..744W. doi:10.1180/minmag.1974.039.307.02. S2CID 129501305. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  5. ^ Mindat.org Cesbronite
  6. ^ "Handbook of mineralogy" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-09-20.