Images
Formula: CuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2].6H2O
Tellurate, monoclinic
paramorph of raisaite,
which is also monoclinic
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.85 measured
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Deep blue
Environments
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Pararaisaite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2018 and to date (November 2023) reported only
from the North Star mine and dumps
Localities
The type locality, the North Star Mine, Mammoth, Tintic Mining District, Juab County, Utah, USA, exploited a
polymetallic (gold - silver -
copper - lead) vein deposit
emplaced in contact-metamorphosed
dolostone. The principle ore minerals were
galena, cerussite and
enargite and the prominent
gangue minerals were quartz
and baryte. A wide variety of oxidation-zone minerals has been
collected from the mine dumps.
Pararaisaite is an oxidation-zone mineral known from only three crystals on the holotype specimen and
a few small broken crystals on two other small specimens. It occurs as deep blue, striated prisms up to 0.4 mm
in length in vugs in a matrix of massive quartz with embedded crystals
of baryte and
goldfieldite. The only associated
secondary mineral is
malachite, which occurs as crusts and cavity fillings
(CM 56.811-820).
Pararaisaite from the North Star Mine -
Image
Back to Minerals