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Formula: Cu3-xTe2
Telluride
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 7.54 measured
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Red
Colour: Red-violet (fresh), darkens
Environments
Rickardite is a late-stage mineral of low-temperature hydrothermal origin in some
tellurium-bearing mineral deposits. Associated minerals include
vulcanite, tellurium,
cameronite, petzite,
sylvanite, berthierite,
pyrite, arsenopyrite and
bornite
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, the Good Hope mine, Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District, Gunnison county, Colorado, USA,
rickardite is
associated with tellurium, petzite,
berthierite and pyrite
(AM 34.441-451).
Rickardite from the Good Hope Mine -
Image
At the Tintic Mining District, Utah, USA, rickardite rarely occurs as crystals, but is usually seen as
metallic masses embedded in matrix along with other tellurides and
sulphides. A very distinctive iridescent tarnish with prominent purples and blues can help to distinguish
rickardite from the other minerals. The tarnished metallic masses generally only cover areas of a square
millimeter or two. At both the Trixie and North Star mines, rickardite occurs most commonly in
quartz-baryte matrix, along with
goldfieldite and hessite. It
has also been found with eurekadumpite and
teineite, which may be its oxidation products. On a specimen from the
North Star mine, tiny flakes of gold just a few microns in size have been
found embedded in the rickardite
(MinRec 55.2.220-221).
Rickardite from Tintic - Image
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