calaverite

[ kal-uh-vair-ahyt ]

noun

1. a silver-white mineral, gold telluride, AuTe 2 , containing a little silver: an ore of gold.

calaverite

/ kəˈlævəˌraɪt /

noun

1. a metallic pale yellow mineral consisting of a telluride of gold in the form of elongated striated crystals. It is a source of gold in Australia and North America. Formula: AuTe 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of calaverite¹

1865–70, Americanism; Calaver(as) , county in California where first found + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of calaverite¹

C19: named after Calaveras, county in California where it was discovered

Example Sentences

A small part of the world's supply is obtained from the gold-silver tellurides—calaverite, sylvanite, krennerite, and petzite.

From Project Gutenberg