Altaite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Altaite
Formula:
PbTe
Colour:
Tin-white with a light yellow tint; yellow-brown, blue (tarnished)
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
8.19
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
After the discovery locality: Zavodinsk, Rudny Altai, Kazakhstan.
Galena Group.
Note: Miscibility gaps exist below ~350°C and 805°C along the joins PbSe-PbTe and PbS-PbTe, respectively (Liu and Chang, 2018).
Compare the chemically related 'UM1986-67-Te:Pb' and 'UM1986-68-Te:Pb'.
Note: Miscibility gaps exist below ~350°C and 805°C along the joins PbSe-PbTe and PbS-PbTe, respectively (Liu and Chang, 2018).
Compare the chemically related 'UM1986-67-Te:Pb' and 'UM1986-68-Te:Pb'.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
147
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:147:6
Similar Names
| Alaite | V2O5 · H2O | |
| Aleutite | A valid IMA mineral species | [Cu5O2](AsO4)(VO4) · (Cu,K,Pb,Rb,Cs,)Cl |
| Aleutite (rock) | A rock subtype | |
| Aliettite | A valid IMA mineral species | Ca0.2Mg6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| Alluadite (of Bernhardi) | A synonym of Dufrénite |
IMA Classification of Altaite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb2+Te2-
Classification of Altaite
2.CD.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
2.8.1.3
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.6.7
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
6 : Sulphides etc. of Sb and Pb
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
6 : Sulphides etc. of Sb and Pb
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Alt | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Alt | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Altaite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white with a light yellow tint; yellow-brown, blue (tarnished)
Comment:
Handbook of Mineralogy: tarnishes bronze; in polished section, white with a delicate greenish hue
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=47 - 53 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}
on {001}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
8.19 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.27 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Altaite
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 400nm | 59.6% |
| 420nm | 62.6% |
| 440nm | 65.2% |
| 460nm | 67.5% |
| 480nm | 69.3% |
| 500nm | 70.6% |
| 520nm | 71.2% |
| 540nm | 71.1% |
| 560nm | 70.1% |
| 580nm | 68.7% |
| 600nm | 66.8% |
| 620nm | 65.1% |
| 640nm | 63.4% |
| 660nm | 61.9% |
| 680nm | 60.6% |
| 700nm | 59.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 71.2%.
Colour in reflected light:
White with greenish hue
Chemistry of Altaite
Mindat Formula:
PbTe
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,Au,Cu,Fe,Se,S
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| Te | 36.66 % |
| Pb | 63.34 % |
| Total: | 100 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kudremukh, Western Ghat region, Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka, India | Minute specks found as inclusions in silicates adjacent to sulfides in a BIF. EMPA analysis |
Crystallography of Altaite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fm3m
Setting:
Fm3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.439 Å
Unit Cell V:
266.97 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Rarely in very small cubes and octahedra; massive, as cleavages, to 1 cm; granular, myrmekitic in other sulfides.
Crystallographic forms of Altaite
Crystal Atlas:
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010041 | Altaite | Noda Y, Masumoto K, Ohba S, Saito Y, Toriumi K, Iwata Y, Shibuya I (1987) Temperature dependence of atomic thermal parameters of lead chalcogenides, PbS, PbSe and PbTe Acta Crystallographica C43 1443-1445 | ![]() | 1987 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0010040 | Altaite | Noda Y, Masumoto K, Ohba S, Saito Y, Toriumi K, Iwata Y, Shibuya I (1987) Temperature dependence of atomic thermal parameters of lead chalcogenides, PbS, PbSe and PbTe Acta Crystallographica C43 1443-1445 | ![]() | 1987 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0000005 | Altaite | Ramsdell L S (1925) The crystal structures of some metallic sulfides American Mineralogist 10 281-304 | ![]() | 1925 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0011374 | Altaite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York rocksalt structure Crystal Structures 1 85-237 | 1963 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.23 Å | (100) |
| 2.29 Å | (80) |
| 1.859 Å | (30) |
| 1.610 Å | (20) |
| 1.443 Å | (50) |
| 1.314 Å | (40) |
| 1.074 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Typically in hydrothermal vein Au–Te-bearing deposits.
Type Occurrence of Altaite
Synonyms of Altaite
Other Language Names for Altaite
Relationship of Altaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Galena Group:
| Alabandite | MnS | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Clausthalite | PbSe | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Galena | PbS | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Niningerite | MgS | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Oldhamite | CaS | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 91 photos of Altaite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 80 photos of Altaite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 69 photos of Altaite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 64 photos of Altaite associated with Hessite | Ag2Te |
| 59 photos of Altaite associated with Plumbotellurite | Pb(TeO3) |
| 56 photos of Altaite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 56 photos of Altaite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 49 photos of Altaite associated with Chlorite Group | |
| 48 photos of Altaite associated with Tellurantimony | Sb2Te3 |
| 47 photos of Altaite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CD. | Svetlanaite | SnSe |
| 2.CD.05 | Teallite | PbSnS2 |
| 2.CD.05 | Herzenbergite | SnS |
| 2.CD.10 va | 'Quiroguite' | Pb23Sb6S32 |
| 2.CD.10 | Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 2.CD.10 | Keilite | (Fe2+,Mg)S |
| 2.CD.10 | Alabandite | MnS |
| 2.CD.10 | Niningerite | MgS |
| 2.CD.10 | Galena | PbS |
| 2.CD.10 | Oldhamite | CaS |
| 2.CD.15a | Cinnabar | HgS |
| 2.CD.15b | Hypercinnabar | HgS |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Altaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-147.html
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References for Altaite
Reference List:
Thompson, R. M. (1949) The telluride minerals and their occurrence in Canada. American Mineralogist, 34 (5-6) 341-382
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x
Noda, Y., Masumoto, K., Ohba, S., Saito, Y., Toriumi, K., Iwata, Y., Shibuya, I. (1987) Temperature dependence of atomic thermal parameters of lead chalcogenides, PbS, PbSe and PbTe. Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 43 (8) 1443-1445 doi:10.1107/s0108270187091509
Ngai, T. Leo; Marshall, D.; Sharma, R. C.; Chang, Y. A. (1987) Thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria of the lead-tellurium binary system. Monatshefte für Chemie , 118 (3). 277-300 doi:10.1007/bf00809938
Localities for Altaite
Showing 736 localities.
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Mattagami Lake mine, Matagami, Jamésie, Nord-du-Québec, Québec, Canada