Paratellurite , Tellurium Locality: Moctezuma Mine (Bambolla Mine), Moctezuma , Municipio de Moctezuma , Sonora , Mexico ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 3.6 x 3.5 x 2.0 cm. Paratellurite is a very rare species and this rich and showy ore specimen is from the Co-type Locality - the Moctezuma Mine of Sonora, Mexico. This gold-tellurium mine is renowned for its wealth of secondary tellurium minerals. Pastel-yellow microcrystals and crusts of paratellurite richly cover both sides of the quartz-rich matrix. A rich concentration of sparkly, silver-gray native tellurium microcrystals covers one end of this fine old-time piece from the Mullane Collection. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Paratellurite
The tetragonal form of tellurium dioxide — the colorless α-TeO₂ mineral, counterpart to orthorhombic tellurite.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Paratellurite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula TeO₂.
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group P4_12_12). It is a member of the Rutile structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1; specific gravity 5.6; Resinous to waxy luster.
IMA symbol Ptlr, IMA status: approved, named in 1960.
Occurs as thin seams in tellurium from a hydrothermal Au–Te deposit (Moctezuma mine, Mexico).
It is found associated with Tellurite, tellurium (Moctezuma mine, Mexico); krennerite, tellurium, rodalquilarite, emmonsite, anglesite (Tombstone, Arizona, USA).
Its name comes from the Greek for near, and for its relation to tellurite.