Gold chalcogenides are compounds formed between gold and one of the chalcogens, elements from group 16 of the periodic table: oxygen, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium.
- Gold(III) oxide, Au<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. Decomposes into gold and oxygen above 160 ðC, and dissolves in concentrated alkalis to form solutions which probably contain the [Au(OH)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> ion
- Gold(I) sulfide, Au<sub>2</sub>S. Formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide with gold(I) compounds.
- Gold(III) sulfide, Au<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, claimed material but unsubstantiated.
- Gold tellurides: Au<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub>, Au<sub>3</sub>Te<sub>5</sub>, and AuTe<sub>2</sub> (approximate formulas) are known as non-stoichiometric compounds. They show metallic conductivity. Au<sub>3</sub>Te<sub>5</sub> is a superconductor at 1.62 K.
Gold telluride minerals, such as calaverite and krennerite (AuTe<sub>2</sub>), petzite (Ag<sub>3</sub>AuTe<sub>2</sub>), and sylvanite (AgAuTe<sub>2</sub>), are minor ores of gold (and tellurium). See telluride minerals for more information.
References