How do I identify Petzite?

Petzite can be identified by its hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale, Lead-gray to black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Petzite?

Petzite typically appears in Lead-gray to black. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

Petzite has a hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

How to Identify Petzite | Properties, Meaning & Uses

What is Petzite?

The mineral petzite, Ag3AuTe2, is a soft, steel-gray telluride mineral generally deposited by hydrothermal activity. It forms isometric crystals, and is usually associated with rare tellurium and gold minerals, often with silver, mercury, and copper. The name comes from chemist W. Petz, who first analyzed the mineral from the type locality in Săcărâmb, Transylvania, Romania in 1845. It was described by Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger in 1845 and dedicated to W. Petz who had carried out the first analyses. It occurs with other tellurides in vein gold deposits. It is commonly associated with native gold, hessite, sylvanite, krennerite, calaverite, altaite, montbrayite, melonite, frohbergite, tetradymite, rickardite, vulcanite and pyrite. Petzite forms together with uytenbogaardtite (Ag3AuS2) and fischesserite (Ag3AuSe2) the uytenbogaardtite group.

Petzite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Petzite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Petzite Localities Map

See where Petzite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.