Cesbronite is a rare copper tellurite mineral typically found as bright emerald green, radiating acicular clusters. It is almost exclusively associated with the highly oxidized zones of tellurium-rich ore bodies, most famously at the Bambollita mine in Mexico.
Is this cesbronite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch cesbronite with a known reference. Cesbronite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: spherical.
Often confused with
Cesbronite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cesbronite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cesbronite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃Te⁴⁺O₄(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale green
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Spherical
- Cleavage
- Poor on {010}; good on {021}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in an oxidized Cu–Te–Pb sulfide deposit (Oriental mine, Mexico)
Where rockhounds find cesbronite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, and from the Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic district, near Eureka, Juab Co., Utah, USA
- Oriental (Bambollita) mine, northeast of the Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12 km south of Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in an oxidized Cu–Te–Pb sulfide deposit (Oriental mine, Mexico). If you start seeing argentian gold, teineite, carlfriesite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cesbronite on the map
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