NATIVE Silver

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The German state of Saxony is rightly renowned for its world-class Native Silver and the Pöhla-Tellerhäuser mine equally so for its fine dendritic Native Silver specimens. On this specimen the Native Silver coats a large heavy matrix of sooty, mid-grey Native Arsenic, a classic combination characteristic of this mine. This specimen really requires only one word to describe it, sublime! It is awe-inspiring and breath-taking, terms neither of which over-hype this magnificent Native silver. Almost two entire faces of the Native Arsenic are hidden by perfectly formed arborescent crystallized Native Silver, almost all herringbone-like but with the side branches at ninety degrees to each stem. These fern-like fronds commonly measure to over 2 cm long and are a metallic white-silver with a frosted specular lustre. Under low magnification the Silver branches and dendrites are overgrown with the most delicate feather-like druses of Native Silver needles. This is a remarkably fine cabinet specimen.