Proustite

If you have been looking for a first-class, beautifully crystallised and translucent Saxon Proustite, then this could be for you! This is an old-time specimen from the historic Marienberg mining district in Erzgebirge, an area containing about 150 recognised mineralised veins and 100 mines! This wonderful large thumbnail specimen is composed entirely of the silver sulphosalt Proustite, with its five perfectly developed crystals projecting vertically from a solid, and equally translucent, Proustite matrix. The largest crystal measures approximately 10 x 8 x 6 mm and is attached along its prism faces to two slightly smaller, yet equally splendid crystals. These in turn are surrounded by yet smaller crystals, all merging into a blood-red glassy matrix. The crystals are perfectly terminated and all have a bright metallic-silver lustre. As with most Proustite, front-lit it appears metallic-black, but once back-lit, displays stunning blood-red translucency from all crystals and matrix. Magnificent!