Calaverite Mineral Data

Calaverite Mineral Data +

General Calaverite Information

Chemical Formula:

AuTe2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 452.17 gm

Tellurium 56.44 % Te

Gold 43.56 % Au

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

AuTe₂

Environment:

Usually in veins of low-temperature origin, also in moderate to high temperature deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1868

Locality:

Staislaus mine, Carson Hill, Calaveras Co. California. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Synonym:

ICSD 64681

PDF 7-344

Calaverite Image

Images:

Calaverite

Comments: Quartz matrix with abundant calaverite crystals.
Location: Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado, USA. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Calaverite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.9863:1:2.3015

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.76, b = 4.41, c = 10.15, Z = 4; beta = 125.2° V = 320.41 Den(Calc)= 9.37

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.99(1), 2.09(0.9), 2.91(0.7),

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Physical Properties of Calaverite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Yellow, Yellowish white.

Density:

9.04

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Crystalline - Fine - Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

green

Optical Properties of Calaverite

RL Anisotrophism:

Weak.

RL Color:

White.

RL Pleochroism:

Weak.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Calaverite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	49.50	55.60
420 nm	51.50	57.50
440 nm	53.80	59.40
460 nm	55.50	61.00
480 nm	57.30	62.50
500 nm	58.80	63.80
520 nm	60.10	64.90
540 nm	61.30	65.90
560 nm	62.30	66.80
580 nm	63.10	67.60
600 nm	63.90	68.30
620 nm	64.40	68.90
640 nm	65.10	69.50
660 nm	65.60	70.00
680 nm	66.00	70.40
700 nm	66.50	70.90

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Calaverite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	20%	40%	60%	80%	100%	120%	140%	160%	170%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Calaverite

Electron Density:

r_electron=7.58 gm/cc
note: r_Calaverite=9.37 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.04509
Boson Index = 0.95491

Photoelectric:

PE_Calaverite= 945.97 barns/electron
U=PE_Calaverite x r_electron=7,174.61 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Calaverite is Not Radioactive

Calaverite Classification

Dana Class:

2.12.13.2 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2

(2.12.13)Dana Group

2.12.13.1 Krennerite AuTe2 Pma2 mm2

2.12.13.2 Calaverite AuTe2 C 2/m 2/m

2.12.13.3 Sylvanite (Au,Ag)2Te4 P 2/c 2/m

2.12.13.4 Kostovite CuAuTe4 Pma2 mm2

Strunz Class:

II/D.16-40 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/D - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium < 1:1, Tellurides with Copper, Silver, Gold

II/D.16 - Kostovite - Calaverite series

II/D.16-10 Kostovite CuAuTe4 Pma2 mm2

II/D.16-20 Sylvanite (Au,Ag)2Te4 P 2/c 2/m

II/D.16-30 Krennerite AuTe2 Pma2 mm2

II/D.16-40 Calaverite AuTe2 C 2/m 2/m

Other Calaverite Information

References:

NAME( MinRec) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Calaverite

AuTe2
Dana No: 2.12.13.2 Strunz No: II/D.16-40
Locality:

Notes: