Proustite with Acanthite and Xanthoconite - image 1

Proustite with Acanthite and Xanthoconite - image 2

Proustite with Acanthite and Xanthoconite

Unknown Owner

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An exceptional and rare specimen of crystalline proustite with acanthite (and some rarer xanthoconite) from the Castle Mine in Ontario, Canada. This is a rare and excellent piece consisting of numerous clusters of scintillating, translucent, vermillion-colored crystals of proustite to 2 mm. You can certainly see why these silver sulfosalts are called "ruby silvers"! These gorgeous crystals are scattered all over the surface of the piece in and among plates of acanthite that are composed of acanthite micro-crystals that possibly pseudomorph a previously formed and subsequently replaced silver sulfosalt such as pearceite. Xanthoconite is indicated on the label and there are several, <0.5 mm, platy, orange-brown crystals found on the piece, as verified by both the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Rob Woodside. John Dagenais rigorously analyzed all of his material and his labels are good - particularly when they also indicate acquisition by Rob Woodside directly from the ROM. Rob and John confirmed his material at University of British Columbia (UBC). An excellent specimen from this older Canadian locality, with great provenance.