Eckhardite is a very rare secondary tellurium mineral primarily found at the Moctezuma mine in Mexico. It typically forms small, yellow, tabular crystals or crusts within the oxidized zones of hydrothermal deposits associated with other rare tellurites.
Is this eckhardite?
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 eckhardite with a known reference. Eckhardite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Eckhardite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Eckhardite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular to blocky crystals, often as crusts or aggregates.
Often confused with
Eckhardite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Eckhardite leaves white, Cesbronite leaves light green; luster reads adamantine on Eckhardite and vitreous on Cesbronite.
How to tell apart: Quetzalcoatlite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs — Eckhardite leaves white, Quetzalcoatlite leaves yellow; luster reads adamantine on Eckhardite and vitreous on Quetzalcoatlite.
Often found alongside eckhardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with eckhardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Pb)CuTeO₆·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 5.53 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular to Blocky Crystals, Often as Crusts or Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Tellurium-bearing Hydrothermal Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find eckhardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Moctezuma mine, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized tellurium-bearing hydrothermal ore deposits country — that is the host setting where eckhardite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, emmonsite, paratellurite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular to blocky crystals, often as crusts or aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find eckhardite on the map
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