Rajite is a rare copper tellurite mineral typically found as small, thin, bright duesbury green platy crystals. It is primarily known from the oxidized zones of the Moctezuma mine in Mexico, where it occurs alongside other rare tellurium species.
Is this rajite?
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 rajite with a known reference. Rajite sits at Mohs 4, 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: resinous, dull if altered.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crystalline.
Often confused with
Rajite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rajite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5); luster reads resinous, dull if altered on Rajite and vitreous on Teineite.
How to tell apart: Rajite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 3); luster reads resinous, dull if altered on Rajite and pearly to dull on Quetzalcoatlite.
Often found alongside rajite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rajite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuTe₂O₅
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.75 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale green
- Luster
- Resinous, dull if altered
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline
- Cleavage
- On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare mineral, coating fractures in intensely silicified rhyolite breccia
Where rockhounds find rajite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lone Pine, Catron County, New Mexico (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare mineral, coating fractures in intensely silicified rhyolite breccia. If you start seeing mackayite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rajite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
