- Sylvanite
Infobox mineral
name = Sylvanite
category =Telluride Mineral
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formula = (Ag,Au)Te2
molweight = 429.89 gm
color = Silver-grey, Silver-white
habit =Massive toCrystaline
system =Monoclinic -Prismatic
twinning =
cleavage = Perfect on the {010}
fracture = Uneven
tenacity = Brittle
mohs = 1.5-2
luster = Metallic
polish =
refractive =
opticalprop = Anisotropic
birefringence =
dispersion =
pleochroism = None
fluorescence= None
absorption =
streak = steel grey
gravity = 8.2
density = 8.1
melt =
fusibility =
diagnostic =
solubility =
diaphaneity = opaque
other =
references = [ [http://www.mindat.org/min-3849.html Sylvanite: Sylvanite mineral information and data ] ] [ [http://webmineral.com/data/Sylvanite.shtml Sylvanite Mineral Data ] ] [ [http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/sylvanit/sylvanit.htm SYLVANITE (Silver Gold Telluride) ] ]Sylvanite or silver gold telluride, (Ag,Au)Te2, is the most common
telluride ofgold . The gold:silver ratio varies from 3:1 to 1:1. It is ametal licmineral with a color that ranges from a steely gray to almost white. It is closely related tocalaverite . Sylvanite crystallizes in themonoclinic 2/m system. Crystals are rare and it is usually bladed or granular. It is very soft with ahardness of 1.5 - 2. It has a high relativedensity of 8 - 8.2. Sylvanite is photosensitive and can accumulate a darktarnish if it is exposed to brightlight for too long. Sylvanite represent a minor ore of gold and tellurium.Occurrence
Sylvanite is found in
Transylvania from which its name is derived. It is also found and mined inAustralia in the EastKalgoorlie district. InCanada it is found in the Kirkland Lake Gold District,Ontario and the Rouyn District,Quebec . In theUnited States it occurs inCalifornia and inColorado where it was mined as part of theCripple Creek ore deposit. Sylvanite is associated with native gold,quartz ,fluorite ,rhodochrosite ,pyrite ,acanthite ,nagyagite ,calaverite ,krennerite , and other rare telluride minerals. It is found most commonly in low temperaturehydrothermal vein deposits.References and external links
*Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, "Manual of Mineralogy", 20th ed., ISBN 0-471-80580-7
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