Calaverite is a rare gold telluride that typically occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins. It is distinguished by its yellowish-green streak and heavy weight, often forming complex, striated prismatic crystals that can be difficult to distinguish from krennerite without X-ray diffraction.
Is this calaverite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch calaverite with a known reference. Calaverite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Calaverite leaves a yellowish-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Calaverite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brass-yellow, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: striated prismatic crystals, bladed, or granular.
Often confused with
Calaverite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Calaverite leaves yellowish-green, Pyrite leaves greenish-black to brownish-black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Calaverite leaves yellowish-green, Sylvanite leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Calaverite leaves yellowish-green, Krennerite leaves yellowish-grey.
Often found alongside calaverite
Minerals reported to co-occur with calaverite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AuTe₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 9.0-9.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-green
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Striated Prismatic Crystals, Bladed, Or Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Gold-telluride Veins
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find calaverite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Cripple Creek, Colorado, USA
- Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
- Sacaramb, Romania
- Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal gold-telluride veins country, the host setting where calaverite typically forms. If you start seeing sylvanite, petzite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a striated prismatic crystals, bladed, or granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Wisconsin. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find calaverite on the map
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