Coloradoite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coloradoite is a mineral consisting of the compound mercury telluride (HgTe) of the chemical elements mercury and tellurium. It is named after the state of Colorado.
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[edit] Physical properties
Coloradoite is a very soft mineral with a Mohs hardness of 1.9, and cleaves poorly. It is in the sphalerite group with an isometric hexoctahedral crystal structure. It has an iron-black metallic lustre. The mineral decomposes on heating. Its specific gravity is 8.07.
[edit] Chemical properties
HgTe dissolves in nitric acid and iron(III) chloride.
[edit] References
- D. M. Chizhikov and V. P. Shchastlivyi, 1966, Tellurium and Tellurides, Nauka Publishing, Moscow
