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Formula: Mg0.5ZnFe3+(Te4+O3)3.nH2O (3 ≤ n ≤ 4.5)
Tellurite,
zemannite group
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: Probably around 4.36 (Mindat)
Hardness: Quite soft
Streak: White
Colour: Light brown, dark brown
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Moctezuma Municipality, Sonora, Mexico, zemannite is a rare
secondary
mineral in the oxidised zone of a hydrothermal
gold-tellurium deposit, occurring as
crystals usually less than 1 mm long. Associated minerals include tellurium,
tellurite, paratellurite,
spiroffite, mroseite,
moctezumite, denningite and
burckhardtite
(CM 14.387-390, HOM, Dana).
Zemannite from the Moctezuma Mine - Image
At the Tintic Mineral District, Utah, USA, Very attractive crystals of zemannite have been reported from the
Centennial Eureka, Gold Chain, North Star and Trixie mines, and at all four of these the zemannite crystals are
brown, elongated hexagonal prisms to 2 mm, commonly grouped in bundles and clusters on a matrix of
quartz. Interestingly, some pink and green specimens have been found at the
North Star mine
(MinRec 55.2.232).
Zemannite from Tintic - Image
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