Schmitterite , Emmonsite Locality: Moctezuma Mine (Bambolla Mine), Moctezuma , Municipio de Moctezuma , Sonora , Mexico ( Locality at mindat.org ) Yellow schmitterite with green emmonsite. Picture width 5 mm. Collection and photograph Christian Rewitzer — Photo: Christian Rewitzer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Schmitterite
Schmitterite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula (UO₂)(Te⁴⁺O₃).
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pca2_1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1; specific gravity 6.878; Pearly luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Sci, IMA status: approved, named in 1967.
Found in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal Au–Te deposit (Moctezuma mine, Mexico); in the oxidized zone of a uranium deposit (Shinkolobwe, Congo).
It is found associated with Emmonsite, mackayite, cuzticite, eztlite, “limonite” (Moctezuma mine, Mexico); uraninite, siegenite, vaesite (Shinkolobwe, Congo).
The mineral was named to honor Eduardo Schmitter Villada (1904–1982), Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.