Calaverite

Availability

Sold

Size

7.5 x 5 x 2.5 cm - Sm Cabinet 

Formula

AuTe₂ (RRUFF)

Locality

Ajax mine, Cripple Creek dist., Teller Co., Colorado, United States

Tagged

tellurium , gold

Several brassy goldish fragmented grains of Calaverite to 5mm occur on this specimen on one side with a coating of chalcedony or hyalite Quartz. On the flip side purple flourite as fine disseminations occur. On both sides occur a little silvery dark grey metallic crystal grains of probably Petzite. It is brittle. There is perhaps light blue Celestine. All these minerals are mentioned and described in the ore deposits section of the USGS Paper 223 titled "Geology and Ore Deposits of the Front Range, Colorado" by the Lovering & Goddard.

The Ajax mine fell within the group of independent mines later grouped within the Granite mine north of the town of Victor. The mine is bounded by the Portland and Strong mines. These mines fall with a volcanic crater which was later mineralized in three episodes. The matrix is a vuggy fine-grained and siliceous with disseminated and formless Pyrite.