Tellurium
in chemistry, symbol Te, at. wt. 128, an element of rare occurrence, found in few minerals, in association with gold, silver, and bismuth. It possesses many of the characters of a metal, but bears so close a resemblance to selenium in its chemical properties that it is generally placed in the sulphur group. It has the color and luster of silver, is very brittle, a bad conductor of heat and electricity; sp. gr. 6.26; melts below a red heat, and volatilizes at a higher temperature. Like sulphur, it forms both oxides and acids. It occurs in six-sided prisms with basal edges replaced; crystallization hexagonal; has lately been found in more complex forms; more often massive and granular; hardness, 2-2.5; sp. gr. 6.1-6.3; luster, metallic; color, tin-white; brittle; composition, tellurium and gold, with occasionally some iron; originally found at the Maria Loretto mine, Transylvania, where it was melted for the gold it contained. It has been recently found associated with various tellurides, in several of the United States. a TEMBULAND, district of the Transkeian Territories in eastern South Africa; bounded by Cape Colony, Basutoland, and Natal. Tembuland has an excellent climate and a fertile soil, which is well suited for pastoral and agricul- ag tural purposes. The coast regions are adapted to the growth of sugar, cotton, and coffee. The minerals include coal and copper. Area, 3,339 square miles; pop. about 236,086. Europeans (1918) 4,204.