  Previous studies on natural samples of pampaloite (AuSbTe) revealed the
crystal structure of a potentially cleavable and/or exfoliable material, while
studies on natural and synthetic montbrayite (Sb-containing Au$_2$Te$_3$)
claimed various chemical compositions for this low symmetry compound. Few
investigations of synthetic samples have been reported for both materials,
leaving much of their chemical, thermal and electronic characteristics unknown.
Here, we investigate the stability, electronic properties and synthesis of the
gold antimony tellurides AuSbTe and Au$_{1.9}$Sb$_{0.46}$Te$_{2.64}$
(montbrayite). Differential thermal analysis and $\textit{in situ}$ powder
x-ray diffraction revealed that AuSbTe is incongruently melting, while
Au$_{1.9}$Sb$_{0.46}$Te$_{2.64}$ is congruently melting. Calculations of the
band structures and four-point resistivity measurements showed that AuSbTe is a
semiconductor and Au$_{1.9}$Sb$_{0.46}$Te$_{2.64}$ a metal. Various synthesis
attempts confirmed the limited stable chemical composition of
Au$_{1.9}$Sb$_{0.46}$Te$_{2.64}$, identified successful methods to synthesize
both compounds, and highlighted the challenges associated with single crystal
synthesis of AuSbTe.
