Choloalite is a very rare tellurite mineral discovered in the oxidized zones of tellurium-bearing deposits. It typically forms minute, sharp cubic or octahedral crystals that exhibit a distinct adamantine luster and a forest-greenish hue.
Is this choloalite?
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 choloalite with a known reference. Choloalite 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: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Choloalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Choloalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs, so Choloalite leaves pale green, Tellurite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Choloalite and subadamantine on Tellurite.
How to tell apart: Choloalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. 1); streak differs, so Choloalite leaves pale green, Paratellurite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Choloalite and resinous to waxy on Paratellurite.
Often found alongside choloalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with choloalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Pb,Ca)₃(Cu,Sb)₃Te₆O₁₈Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale green
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- With other tellurites and tellurates in the oxidized portions of base and precious metal deposits
Where rockhounds find choloalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dumps between the Joe and Grand Central shafts, Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, and at the McAlpine mine, Tuolumne Co., California, USA
- Oriental (Bambollita) mine, northeast of the Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12 km south of Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: With other tellurites and tellurates in the oxidized portions of base and precious metal deposits. If you start seeing emmonsite, rodalquilarite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify choloalite?+
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Is choloalite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like choloalite?+
What minerals are found with choloalite?+
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Find choloalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
