Bambollaite

Formula:  Cu(Se,Te)2

Origin of name:  After locality; Mina la Bambolla near Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico (translation roughly means "hot air" in allusion to exaggerated tales of rich gold ore)

 

Crystal system:  Tetragonal, pseudocubic

Crystal class:  4/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 5.466 Å, c = 5.632 Å

 

Colour:  Slate-gray

Diaphaneity:  Opaque

Luster:  Metallic

Habit:  Microcrystalline; massive

Hardness:  3

Specific gravity: 5.02

Cleavage:  None

Tenacity: fracture fine conchoidal

Streak:

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: Found in oxidised Au-Te ores in sub-parallel quartz veins in hydrothermally altered tuff

 

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