Krennerite
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| Krennerite | |
|---|---|
| Category | Telluride mineral |
| Chemical formula | AuTe2 |
| Identification | |
| Molecular Weight | 452.17 gm |
| Color | White to blackish yellow |
| Crystal habit | Massive to crystaline |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic - Pyramidal |
| Cleavage | Perfect |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 2.5 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Optical Properties | Anisotrophic |
| Pleochroism | weak |
| Ultraviolet fluorescence | None |
| Streak | greenish grey |
| Density | 8.53 |
| Diaphaneity | opaque |
| References | [1] [2] |
Krennerite is an orthorhombic gold telluride mineral which can contain a relatively small amount of silver in the structure. The formula is AuTe2 varying to (Au0.8,Ag0.2)Te2. Both of the chemically similar gold-silver tellurides, calaverite and sylvanite are in the monoclinic crystal system, whereas krennerite is orthorhombic.
The color varies from silver-white to brass-yellow. It has a specific gravity of 8.53 and a hardness of 2.5. It occurs in high temperature hydrothermal environments.
Krennerite was discovered in 1877 and first described by the Hungarian mineralogist Joseph Krenner (1839-1920).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- G. Tunnell and K. J. Murata, American Mineralogist 35, 359-384 (1950).
- Structure of Krennerite retrieved 6-26-05
- Euromineral retrieved 6-26-05
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