Empressite
A variety of Minerals
What is Empressite?
Empressite is a mineral form of silver telluride, AgTe. It is a rare, grey, orthorhombic mineral with which can form compact masses, rarely as bipyrimidal crystals. Recent crystallographic analysis has confirmed that empressite is a distinct mineral with orthorhombic crystal structure, different from the hexagonal Ag5−xTe3 with which empressite has been commonly confused in mineralogy literature. At the same time, empressite does not appear on the equilibrium Ag-Te phase diagram, and therefore it is only metastable at ambient conditions. Given infinite time, it would phase separate into pure Ag5Te3 and pure Te. The name empressite comes from the location of its discovery – the Empress Josephine mine, Saguache County, Colorado, US. It was first described in 1914.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Empressite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Empressite Localities Map
See where Empressite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- light bronze
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3 - 3.5
- Density
- 7.61 g/cm³
- Streak
- grey-black to black
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- AgTe
- Elements
- Ag, Te
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Empressite FAQs
How do I identify Empressite?
Empressite can be identified by its hardness of 3 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale, light bronze color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Empressite?
Empressite typically appears in light bronze. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Empressite?
Empressite has a hardness of 3 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.
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