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Formula: Pb2Cu4(TeO6)2(H2O)2
Tellurate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 6.557 calculated
Hardness: 3
Streak: Very pale green
Colour: Vibrant "neon" green, lime green
Luminescence: Non-fluorescent under UV
Solubility: In dilute hydrochloric acid paratimroseite immediately decomposes, turning opaque white, and then the
residue slowly dissolves
Common impurities: Cl
Environments
Paratimroseite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2009 and to date (February 2023) reported only from the
type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Aga Mine, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino county,
California, USA, timroseite and paratimroseite both occur on fracture
surfaces and in small vugs in brecciated
quartz veins. Paratimroseite is directly associated with
calcite, cerussite,
housleyite, khinite-4O,
markcooperite and timroseite.
Paratimroseite occurs as vibrant “neon” green blades typically intergrown in irregular clusters and as lime green
botryoids
(AM 95.1560-1568). It is a secondary mineral formed from the
partial oxidation of primary sulphides, such as
galena, and tellurides, such as
hessite, during or following
brecciation of the quartz veins. The
chlorine may be sourced in part from primary phases, but it is most
likely from salty brines interacting with primary
tellurides
(HOM).
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