Chlorargyrite - Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Chlorargyrite

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This historically interesting miniature specimen from Allemont (or Allemond), Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France consists of a gossan matrix within which are small (sub mm) blebs of greyish Chlorargyrite - silver chloride. A silver mine was reportedly started near Allemond shortly after 1767, after a shepherdess reportedly went to throw a rock at a goat, only to spot that it contained silver - the rock, not the goat! This specimen cannot claim to be quite that old, but is accompanied by four old handwritten German labels. One label relates to Christian Wilhelm Borée in Elbingerode (1803-), and another to Dr. J. G. Fischer in Hamburg who is possibly Johann Gustav Fischer (1819-1889) a herpetologist at the Natural History Museum in the city. The labels certainly have the appearance of dating to the 19th century. A super historic piece.