Chromschieffelinite

chromschieffelinite

khinite

wulfenite

chrysocolla

Images

Formula: Pb₁₀Te⁶⁺₆O₂₀(OH)₁₄(CrO₄)(H₂O)₅
Chromate, tellurium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 5.892 calculated for the ideal formula
Hardness: 2
Streak: Pale Yellow
Colour: Pale yellow
Solubility: By analogy to schieffelinite, chromschieffelinite is expected to be readily soluble in cold dilute hydrochloric or nitric acid
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Chromschieffelinite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2011 and to date (November 2024) reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA, chromschieffelinite is very rare indeed. The only material available was from a single 1 mm diameter vug in a quartz vein. Other species identified on the holotype specimen are chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, galena, goethite, hematite, khinite, pyrite and wulfenite. Chromschieffelinite occurs as a secondary oxidation zone mineral and is presumed to have formed by oxidation of tellurides and galena. The source of the Cr is not clear, although two other secondary chromates, fornacite and vauquelinite, have been found in the Bird Nest drift mineral assemblage.
Chromschieffelinite crystals are blocky to tabular, striated and up to 0.2 mm in maximum dimension .

Back to Minerals