Tellurium

About it

Tin-white prisms and masses, brittle, often with gold tellurides. Known from Cripple Creek, Colorado, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and the Moctezuma mine in Sonora, Mexico.

Type

Mineral

Group

Native element

Formula

Te

Hardness (Mohs)

2–2.5

Specific gravity

6.1–6.3

Streak

grey

Lustre

metallic

Crystal system

Trigonal

Colours

tin white

Transparency

opaque

Cleavage and fracture

perfect prismatic; uneven fracture, brittle

Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.