Min. [f. (Tran)sylvania, where found: see -ITE1. Cf. sylvanium (G. sylvan, Werner), an old name for tellurium.] a. Native tellurium, with slight admixture of gold, iron, etc. ? Obs. b. A telluride of gold and silver (sometimes also containing lead), occurring in crystals or masses of a steel-grey, silver-white, or yellow color with metallic luster.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 324. I call it [sc. the new semi-metal] Sylvanite, from its being found in Transylvania.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., II. 239. Bornite … with sylvanite, from Nagyag in Transilvania.
1868. Dana, Min. (ed. 5), 81. Sylvanite…. Comp…. Tellurium 55·8, gold 28·5, silver 15·7; Antimony sometimes replaces part of the tellurium, and lead part of the other metals.
Hence Sylvanitic a., containing sylvanite.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 101. The Sylvanitic Ore … is … of a whitish colour.
