CALAVERITE (GOLD-TELLURIDE) (miniature)

Calaverite, also known as gold telluride, is a rare metallic mineral characterized by the chemical formula AuTe2, with about 3% of its gold content substituted by silver. Discovered in 1861 in Calaveras County, California, it was named after the county in 1868. This mineral typically exhibits a metallic sheen and can appear in colors ranging from silvery white to brassy yellow. Calaverite is closely associated with sylvanite, another gold-silver telluride, which contains a higher silver content. Additionally, a different mineral with the same formula, krennerite, features a distinct crystal structure. While calaverite and sylvanite are the primary telluride ores of gold, they represent only minor sources of gold overall. Notably, calaverite was significant during the gold rushes in Western Australia in the 1890s, contributing to the region's mining history.