Wicks' pick of the mix chicks pick up rix

[Sojourner]

and other sundry tales:

Rix"-dol`lar (?), n. [Sw. riksdaler, or Dan. rigsdaler, or D. rijksdaalder,
or G. reichsthaler, literally, dollar of the
empire or realm, fr. words akin to E. rich, and dollar. See Rich, Dollar.]
A name given to several different silver
coins of Denmark, Holland, Sweden,, NOrway, etc., varying in value from
about 30 cents to $1.10; also, a British
coin worth about 36 cents, used in Ceylon and at the Cape of Good Hope.

As for telluric, it of course refers to Tellus or the god of the Earth.
The only
practical use I could find for tellurium (in use today):

Metallurgy: 

75% of demand. Elemental Te added as an alloying element (0.04%)
to free machining steels is the largest single use. Added to copper, Te
improves
machinability without materially decreasing conductivity. Added to lead, Te
improves resistance to vibration and fatigue. As an additive to cast iron,
Te helps
control the depth of chill; in malleable iron Te is a carbide stabilizer.

Chemicals: 

15% of demand. As a secondary vulcanizing agent for rubber, an
accelerator in processing rubber to retain flexibility at elevated
temperatures. A
component of catalysts for synthetic fiber intermediates and for chemicals
manufacturing.

Electrical: 

8% of demand. As an alloy component in selenium photoreceptors for
copiers and printers. As the cadmium-mercury-telluride compound, the major
photosensitive material employed in infrared detector systems. As an alloy
component in bismuth telluride cooling devices..

Other Applications: 

2% of demand. As an ingredient in blasting caps, as a
pigment to produce various colors in glass and ceramics, etc.


all of this tellurium info from:

http://www.stda.be/applte.html

Ironically, it seems Tellurium is the yang of Selenium, the old
moon/earth deal.  Another aspect of Pynchonian tension.


I thank you in advance for your time and effort in this matter.

Sincerely,



Sam Reames
Technical Services/Serials Receiving
University Libraries
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA  24060
USA

(540) 231-4272
sreames at vt.edu