Native tellurium is a rare metallic element that typically forms in hydrothermal gold deposits. Collectors look for its characteristic tin-white color and distinct hexagonal crystal habit, though it is often found as metallic masses within sulfide ores.
Is this native tellurium?
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 native tellurium with a known reference. Native Tellurium sits at Mohs 2-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Tellurium leaves a gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Tellurium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tin-white, silver-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: hexagonal prisms, massive, radiated, or reniform aggregates.
Often confused with
Native Tellurium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Tellurium leaves gray, Antimony leaves tin-white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Native Tellurium leaves gray, Bismuth leaves silver-white.
How to tell apart: Arsenic is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs — Native Tellurium leaves gray, Arsenic leaves black.
Often found alongside native tellurium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native tellurium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Te
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 6.24 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal Prisms, Massive, Radiated, Or Reniform Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {1010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Gold-telluride Veins
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and rarity
Where rockhounds find native tellurium
Classic worldwide localities
- Făţa Băii, Romania
- Moctezuma, Mexico
- Cripppe Creek, Colorado, USA
- Kalgoorlie, Australia
- Kawazu mine, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal gold-telluride veins country — that is the host setting where native tellurium typically forms. If you start seeing gold, sylvanite, calaverite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a hexagonal prisms, massive, radiated, or reniform aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native tellurium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
