The chemical formula of mineral Altaite is indicated by PbTe or Lead Telluride. Altaite is actually a Sulfide mineral. Mineral Altaite was after the locality where it was first discovered. This mineral was first discovered in Ziryanovsk in Altai Mountains, Siberia in the year 1845. Altaite is known to crystallize in the isometric crystal system. In optical mineralogy, this isometric system comprises crystals having three axes, all of which are perpendicular to one another and all are found equal in lengths. Altaite is also a member of the Galena group of minerals. This is because it has been known in optical mineralogy that they appear to have the same properties and are known to share the same structure. Altaite is a rare mineral and can be easily distinguished from Galena by gradation of their densities. Altaite is known to have much higher density compared to Galena. Altaite is considered special by most serious mineral collectors because it is known as a Telluride mineral. Lead telluride Altaite is considered as a very unique mineral.
Altaite is most commonly found exhibiting a tin white to yellowish white color when viewed with the aid of petrographic polarizing microscopes. Sometimes it may appear tarnishing to bronze yellow. Altaite commonly shows perfect cleavage found in three directions forming cubes, which can be seen clearly visible when viewed with the aid of petrographic polarizing microscope. Altaite usually display a metallic luster when evaluated in reflected light of polarized light microscope used in optical mineralogy. Altaite specimen is most commonly found leaving a black streak when it is rubbed on a white porcelain streak plate. Mineral Altaite commonly show uneven fracture when it is examined under several adjustments on the aperture diaphragm of petrographic polarizing microscope for mineralogists. The specific gravity measure is approximately 8.2 grams per cubic centimeters to 8.3 grams per cubic centimeters, which is considered much heavier than average for metallic minerals. The hardness measure of the mineral Altaite when it is evaluated using the Mohs scale method is usually ranging from 2.5 to 3.
Altaite crysrals are commonly found opaque in appearance. At certain angles upon viewing the mineral under petrographic polarizing microscopes, it shows inclusions of cubic and octahedral crystals. More commonly they appear in massive or granular form. Euhedral crystal formation may be also visible occurring as well-formed crystals showing good external form. A more common appearance is the massive or granular forms, which may exhibit texture observed in granite and other igneous rocks. Altaite is often associated with gold and silver and several gold and silver sulfides and tellurides. They are commonly found in hydrothermal vein gold deposits. Altaite can be also found in Ritchie Creek Deposit, Price County in Wisconsin; Koch-Bulak Gold deposit in Kazakhstan; Moctezuma in Mexico; Coquimbo in Chile; Hilltop Mine, Organ Mountains in Dona Ana County, New Mexico; Stanislaus Mine, Calaveras County; Sawmill Flat, Tuolumne County and the Providence Mine, Nevada County, California; and many other places.
