Apple green crystals of the very rare tellurium mineral timroseite from the type locality (Bird Nest Drift, San Bernardino County, California, United States of America). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Timroseite
Timroseite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Pb₂Cu₅(TeO₆)₂(OH)₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2_1nm).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 6.982; Very pale yellowish green streak; Dull to adamantine luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Tim, IMA status: approved, named in 2009.
A secondary phase on fracture surfaces and in small vugs in quartz veins. Formed from the partial oxidation of primary sulfides (e.g., galena) and tellurides (e.g., hessite) during or following brecciation of the quartz veins.
It is found associated with Acanthite, cerussite, bromine-rich chlorargyrite, chrysocolla, gold, housleyite, iodargyrite, khinite-4O, markcooperite, ottoite, paratimroseite, thorneite.
The mineral was named to honor Timothy (Tim) P. Rose (b. 1960) geochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. An avid mineral collector, he collected and provided two of the studied specimens.