Teineite is a rare copper tellurite mineral typically found as deep blue acicular crystals or radiating tufts in oxidized zones of tellurium-bearing ore deposits. It is highly prized by collectors for its vivid color and restricted occurrence in only a few classic localities worldwide.
Is this teineite?
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 teineite with a known reference. Teineite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue gray, sky blue, dark blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating clusters, crusts.
Often confused with
Teineite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside teineite
Minerals reported to co-occur with teineite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuTeO₃·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.80 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, radiating clusters, crusts
- Cleavage
- On {010}, good; on {001} and {100}, poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral formed by oxidation of copper- and tellurium-bearing sulfides
Where rockhounds find teineite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cole shaft and in the Shattuck mine, Bisbee, Warren district, Cochise Co., and in the Dome Rock Mountains, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA
- Lone Pine mine, Wilcox district, Catron Co., New Mexico, USA
- Teine mine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, and in the Kawazu mine, three km north of Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12 km south of Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
- Salmchâteau, near Ottré, Belgium
- Åmotsdal, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral formed by oxidation of copper- and tellurium-bearing sulfides. If you start seeing tellurite, tellurium, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating clusters, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify teineite?+
Where is teineite found?+
Is teineite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like teineite?+
What minerals are found with teineite?+
What kind of rock does teineite form in?+
What is teineite used for?+
Find teineite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
