Pyrargyrite on Galena

Unknown Owner

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The St. Andreasberg area in the Harz mountains and in particular the historic Samson mine is famous for its silver minerals of which Pyrargyrite (aka Ruby Silver) is one of the most collectible. However, most are very old pieces and so finding one that is aesthetic and most importantly intact is a challenge. This fantastic small cabinet display specimen from Peter Burr's collection is of exceptional quality. Not only does it present a cluster of three perfect, squat, short rhombic prisms, with no damage and exquisite resinous lustre and deep purple colour, sitting like an island upon Galena, but on the reverse, the specimen displays excellent Galena crystals and Calcite too, in a classic St. Andreasberg association. The individual Pyrargyrite crystals reach 9 mm across and there are many smaller prismatic Pyrargyrite crystals dotted over the surface of the Galena elsewhere on the specimen too. This really is a magnificent German Pyrargyrite.