NATIVE Silver with Sternbergite

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This miniature, rich in Native Silver and the silver-iron sulphide Sternbergite, is a rare combination of mineral species from the Eli' mine close to J'chymov in the Czech Republic. Eli' was a deep silver mine and from the end of World War 2 produced uranium. The specimen is a complex mix of what appear to be brecciated rock fragments cemented by various sulphides with, probably, Sternbergite being the most dominant. Creamy to pale lemon coloured Quartz also occurs in the matrix as blocky fragments. The Sternbergite forms dull metallic light grey crystals, often exhibiting a layered platy tabular habit. Amongst and over these are black oxidised curled wires of Native Silver which sit flat again the top surface.