Xocolatlite Locality: Moctezuma Mine (Bambolla Mine), Moctezuma , Municipio de Moctezuma , Sonora , Mexico ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 4.5 x 3 x 3 cm. One of the surprises of 2007 for rarities was the reworking of the famous old Bambolla mine in the Moctezuma tellurium complex for specimens, by several European-led collecting teams. This is the only example of this relatively new tellurate species I have yet seen available, and I am told it is a very good one as well, from the limited supply available. It was part of a study group of specimens given to a major museum, and then traded to me at the Tucson 2009 show. The species was named for the Aztec word for chocolate, the color of its crystals. Type locality. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Xocolatlite
A chocolate-brown copper-manganese tellurate-sulfate — named for 'chocolate' itself.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Xocolatlite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Ca₂Mn⁴⁺₂Te⁶⁺₂O₁₂·H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–3; specific gravity 4.04; Copper-brown streak; Vitreous luster.
IMA symbol Xoc, IMA status: approved, named in 2007.
From the weathering of an epithermal quartz-tellurium-gold vein system.
It is found associated with Quartz, barite, jarosite, emmonsite, schmitterite, eztlite.
The name commemorates the word xocolatl used by the Aztecs for a sacred beverage, known in English as chocolate, made by mixing cocoa, water, vanilla, pepper, and chili.