Pyrargyrite

Unknown Owner

Pyrargyrite from St. Andreasberg in the Harz Mountains of Germany occurs in historic silver bearing hydrothermal veins that were mined from the 16th century onward. The district was an important source of silver for centuries, and underground workings produced a variety of silver sulfosalt minerals including proustite, often called ruby silver for its deep red color. Proustite crystals from Andreasberg commonly formed in association with native silver, galena, and quartz within narrow vein systems hosted in metamorphic rocks. Specimens from this classic German locality are highly valued by collectors for their rich color, sharp crystal form, and historical significance in European mining history. This example shows lustrous crystals measuring to 1.0 cm in size across the front of some matrix. Very little micro-damage present, this is in good condition for such an old timer. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. A fine European classic. the specimen dates to the 19th century and was once part of the collection of Wilhelm Hoyer. Wilhelm Hoyer was a 19th century German mineral collector and dealer who was active during a period when systematic mineral collecting and study were expanding across Europe. Based in Germany, he assembled and handled specimens from important mining districts such as the Harz Mountains and Erzgebirge, supplying collectors, museums, and universities with well documented material. Like many dealers of his era, Hoyer often labeled specimens carefully, and original Hoyer labels are today valued by collectors as part of a specimens provenance. His activities contributed to the circulation of classic European mineral specimens during a formative period in mineralogy and scientific collecting.