Hessite on Quartz

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This quite remarkable specimen is an extremely rare example of superbly crystallised Hessite over a druse of iron-stained Quartz crystals from Bot's in Alba County, Romania. Hessite is a di-silver telluride (Ag2Te) and crystalises in the monoclinic system. Probably 40 to 50, 2 to 4 mm lead-grey Hessite crystals are scattered individually or as small, clustered groups over a triangular 4.5 x 3 cm thin Quartz plate. This is covered in a druse of 1 to 2 mm Quartz crystals and separated larger tapering milky Quartz crystals to about 7 mm tall and fine acicular Quartz needles. The Hessite has a specular metallic lustre and displays beautifully set on the Quartz. This is a museum-quality specimen of a rare silver telluride.