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Formula: CaTe4+O2(CO3)
Compound tellurite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 4.35 measured, 4.171 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless to white
Solubility: Effervesces in cold, dilute hydrochloric acid
Environments
Mroseite occurs as a secondary mineral in
telluride-bearing veins (Webmin).
Tellurium forms Te2O4 groups with the oxygens that are
not bonded to carbon. These Te2O4 groups consist of two TeO3 pyramids with a common
O-O edge. It is the TeO3 groups that make the mineral a tellurite
(CM 13.383-387).
Localities
At the type locality, the Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Moctezuma Municipality, Sonora, Mexico, mroseite is a very
rare mineral in a hydrothermal
gold-tellurium deposit. Associated
minerals include spiroffite,
tellurium, tellurite,
denningite, zemannite and
quartz
(AM 60.946, HOM, Mindat).
Mroseite occurs as crude, translucent, colourless to reddish pink or brown, adamantine crystals to 6 mm and
radiating masses and crusts fused with tellurite. In this association,
the mineral was probably formed as a decomposition product of spiroffite.
The pink coloration is due to low manganese levels
(Minrec 55.6.845).
Mroseite from Moctezuma - Image
At the T.E.I. pit, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, mroseite is associated with "oboyerite" (a mixture of
ottoite and plumbotellurite),
choloalite and gold
(HOM).
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