TELLURIUM

    Class : Elements
    Subclass : Non-metals
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : Te
    Rarity : Rare

Native tellurium is a rare accessory mineral found in epithermal gold deposits, in which it accompanies native gold and various tellurides (petzite, hessite, sylvanite, altaite) and sulfides (sphalerite, galena, pyrite). It is a primary or secondary mineral and then results from the alteration of tellurium, in which selenium can very partially take the place of tellurium. Its name comes from the Latin Tellus (Earth). Native tellurium forms small hexagonal prismatic to acicular crystals, exceptionally reaching 3.5 cm, as well as small granular masses, with a bright metallic luster and a tin-white color.

Main photo : Native tellurium from Emperor Mine, Vatukoula, Fiji © Chris Emproto

Tellurium in the World

Native tellurium is found in most epithermal gold deposits in Colorado (Cripple Creek, Gold Hill, Vulcan), Mexico (Moctezuma, Sonora province), central Romania (Baia de Aries, Zlatna) and Fiji (Emperor Mine).

Right photo : Native tellurium from Mariahilf Mine, Zlatna, Romania © Christophe Boutry


Tellurium in France

In France, tellurium is known in the gold-bearing alluvium of Porz Mellec near Lannion (Côtes d'Armor).

Twinning

No twinning known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2 to 2.5
Density : 6.1 to 6.3
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Gray

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Sulfuric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None