(L. tellus, earth) Discovered by Muller von Reichenstein in 1782; named by Klaproth,who isolated it in 1798.

Tellurium is occasionally found native, but is more often found as the telluride ofgold (calaverite), and combined with other metals. It is recovered commercially from theanode muds that are produced during the electrolytic refining of blister copper. The U.S.,Canada, Peru, and Japan are the largest Free World producers of the element.