The chemical formula of mineral Quetzalcoatlite is indicated by Zn8Cu4(TeO3)3(OH)18 or Zinc Copper Telluride Hydroxide. This Quetzalcoatlite is actually a Sulfate mineral. It is considered as a very minor ore of tellurium. Quetzalcoatlite is also used as mineral specimen and it is often found showing nice and interesting microscope images under polarizing microscopes used in the field of optical mineralogy. Quetzalcoatlite is a very unusual mineral found in Mexico. This mineral is very rare in occurrence. Quetzalcoatlite was named after the Aztec God Quetzalcoatl, which means Feathered Serpent. Quetzalcoatlite is usually found bright blue color with translucent appearance. Quetzalcoatlite is only one of the several different rare tellurium minerals that come from the Moctezuma area of Sonora, Mexico.
Quetzalcoatlite is most commonly found bright blue in color and it could appear more fascinating when viewed with the aid o polarizing microscope for mineralogists. Quetzalcoatlite is usually found showing vitreous luster when viewed in reflected light of petrographic polarizing microscope. Most crystals of Quetzalcoatlite are found translucent in appearance. Quetzalcoatlite is known to crystallize in the hexagonal system of crystal formation. In optical mineralogy, the hexagonal system of crystallization comprises crystals having four axes. Three of which are positioned in a single plane with equal length and are symmetrically spaced. The fourth axis is found to be perpendicular to the other three axes. The crystal habits of mineral Quetzalcoatlite as described in the field of optical mineralogy usually include small granular crystals.
Mineral Quetzalcoatlite is most commonly found showing good cleavage that can be found more clearly exhibited when viewed with the aid of polarizing microscopes used in optical mineralogy. The hardness measure of mineral Quetzalcoatlite when specimen is evaluated using the Mohs scale method is usually 3. Quetzalcoatlite is commonly found leaving a white streak when specimen sample is rubbed on a white porcelain streak plate. The specific gravity measure of mineral Quetzalcoatlite is approximately 6.1 grams per cubic centimeters, which is very heavy for translucent minerals. Quetzalcoatlite is usually found associated with other minerals including tellurium minerals such as dugganite and khinite and various other tellurates and tellurites. It is also associated with gold. The best field indicators of mineral Quetzalcoatlite include cleavage, locality, density and color. Quetzalcoatlite has limited occurrence to the Bambollita Mine, Sierra La Huerta, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico and at least one specimen was found at the Old Guard Mine, Tombstone, Arizona.
