Pyrargyrite

Unknown Owner

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The mine at Porco is the oldest and most significant Silver mine in Bolivia, and Pyrargyrite is not common in fine quality specimens from this mine but recently some decent specimens have made their way out. This piece is a good Pyrargyrite by most Bolivian standards. The crystals are rather lustrous and sharp, and the piece shows and excellent blood-red color when backlit. Specimens from Porco are virtually impossible to obtain these days because miners rarely bring out anything for sale, as the mine is a large commercial production, and virtually everything goes into the crusher. Most everything that evades the crusher is usually taken out of Bolivia by a geologist who has an "in" at the mine, or sometimes a group of brave miners risk losing their jobs by sneaking out a handful of specimens to raise a little extra money to feed their families.