Carlfriesite, H4 Ca(TeO3)3, a New Mineral from Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico

Sidney A. Williams and Richard V. Gaines
Phelps Dodge Corporation, Douglas, Arizona
Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Summary: Carlfriesite is a new species found in relative abundance at the Bambollita (now La Oriental) mine in the Sierra La Huerta near Moctezuma, Sonora. Colour primrose yellow (R.H.S. 4B) with pale yellow streak. H = 3 ½ Dmeas = 6·3, Dcalc = 5·93. Fair cleavage on {010}. Monoclinic with a 12·585 Å, b 5·658, c 9·985, β 115° 35′. Space group Cc or C2/c. Strongest lines are 3·167 (IO), 3·o82 (9B), 5·o63 (6), 2·832 (6), 3·369 (4), 4·825 (3), 2·698 (3), and 4·o89 (2). Feeble pleochroism in pale yellow with γ > α = β; α = 1·982 ,β = 2·095, γ 2·19; 2Vα = 79° calc. Occurs with cerussite and chlorargyrite in an oxidized assemblage derived from hessite, galena, and bornite.

Clay Minerals; June 1975 v. 40; no. 310; p. 127-130; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1975.040.310.02
© 1975, The Mineralogical Society
Mineralogical Society (www.minersoc.org)