Auricite

Auricite is a historical, non-specific mineralogical term that has been used to refer to gold-bearing materials, rather than a distinct mineral species. The name is derived from Latin aurum (gold) with the -cite suffix common to mineral names. In early mineralogical and mining literature, auricite was applied loosely to native gold, gold-rich ores, or other substances believed to be closely associated with gold, without a defined crystal structure or precise chemical composition. Because of this lack of standardization, auricite did not become a formal mineral name and does not appear in current IMA-approved nomenclature.

Over time, the term fell into disuse as systematic mineral classification advanced. In some cases, auricite entries in old catalogues may reflect misidentifications or generic labels rather than a discrete mineral phase. The term has occasionally been conflated with aurichalcite (a copper-zinc carbonate hydroxide) due to similarities in historic naming conventions, or with electrum, a natural gold-silver alloy, in certain contexts.

Today, auricite is best understood as an obsolete or archival label rather than a recognized mineral. When modern authors discuss gold-bearing materials, they typically specify the exact mineral species involved (native gold, electrum, or a defined sulfide/oxide ore) rather than using auricite.

See also: native gold, electrum, aurichalcite, auriferous, mineral nomenclature, IMA.

References: IMA Master List and historical mineralogy dictionaries.