Coloradoite

Coloradoite, also known as mercury telluride (HgTe), is a rare telluride ore associated with metallic deposit (especially gold and silver). Gold usually occurs within tellurides (e.g. Coloradoite) as a high finess native-metal (Fadda et al., 2005).

The quest for mining led to the discovery of telluride ores which were found to be associated with metals. Tellurides are ingrown into ores containing these precious metals and are also responsible for a significant amount these metals being produced. Coloradoite is a member of the coordination subclass of tellurides is a covalent compound that is isostructural with sphalerite (ZnS) (Povarennykh, 1972). Its chemical properties are highly instrumental in distinguishing it from other tellurides. First discovered in Colorado in 1877, other deposits containing coloradoite have been discovered since then. Although it plays an important role in the geology of minerals, it can also be used for other purposes.