Gold tellurides

The chemistry of gold tellurides is relatively complex with a series of identifiable minerals. The more common gold-bearing tellurides are sylvanite ((Au, Ag)Te₄), calaverite ((Au, Ag), Te₂) and petzite ((Au, Ag₃)Te₂) with krennerite (Au₄ Ag Te₄) and montbroyite (Au₂ Te₃) less common. Gold tellurides occurrence is widespread and is often associated with some free gold and sulphide minerals. The density of gold tellurides (8.0 - 10.0) are lower than native gold and the colour are less distinctive shades of white, grey and black.