Clerite is an extremely rare silver telluride mineral that typically occurs as microscopic anhedral grains in hydrothermal vein deposits. Due to its scarcity and similarity to other telluride minerals, it is primarily sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors who utilize XRD or SEM-EDS for positive identification.
Is this clerite?
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 clerite with a known reference. Clerite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Clerite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Clerite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lead-gray, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Clerite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Clerite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Clerite leaves black, Sylvanite leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Clerite leaves black, Petzite leaves iron-black.
Often found alongside clerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with clerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ag₃Te₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 6.12 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Epithermal Gold-telluride Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per micro-mount or small specimen
Where rockhounds find clerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Koch-Bulak, Kyrgyzstan
- Zod, Armenia
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal gold-telluride veins country — that is the host setting where clerite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, pyrite, gold in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find clerite on the map
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