Mineral Factbook

Altaite

PbTeIMA symbol: Altgrandfathered

Altaite is a sulfide or sulfosalt mineral with the formula PbTe, crystallizing in the cubic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 3, typically colorless in color, with a metallic luster, a specific gravity of 8.16. Its streak is black or gray.

Photos

Altaite specimen photo
Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Altaite specimen photo
Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Altaite specimen photo
Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Altaite specimen photo
Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemcubic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupF m -3 m
Cell (Å, °)a = 6.4541, b = 6.4541, c = 6.4541; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90
Cell volume268.848 ų, Z = 4
Axial ratios1.0000:1:1.0000calculated from COD 9011358
Source structureCOD 9011358 (Acta Crystallographica, Section C, 1987) — 1 of 4 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)3.2272.2821.4431.8631.3171.614
I/I₀10078.337.428.527.713.5

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9011358; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)8.272 g/cm³calculated from COD 9011358
Hardness (Mohs)
3single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Specific gravity
8.16 g/cm3corroboratedDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Color
colorlesssingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Streak
blacksingle sourceWikidata (CC0)
black, graysingle sourceFord, Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 3rd ed. (1922)
Luster
metallicsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)

Chemistry (calculated)

Molecular weight334.8 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula
Composition (wt%)Pb 61.89%, Te 38.11%

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)2.CD.10Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)2.CD.10Wikidata (CC0)