Argyrodite with Polybasite

Unknown Owner

The Freiberg Mining District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany is home to the Type Locality of at least eight silver-bearing mineral species. Perhaps this shouldn't come as a surprise considering how historically important this region is for silver mining. This lovely miniature specimen from Himmelsfürst mine within the Freiberg Mining District displays two of these important silver-bearing mineral species: Argyrodite and Polybasite. Himmelsfürst mine is the specific Type Locality for the former, and the latter is simply linked to the wider region. The Argyrodite here, forms classic rounded, finely crystallized aggregates which on the reverse, or inside, are lined with sharp pointed microcrystals of Polybasite. This really is a classy example of the iconic form of Argyrodite from Himmelsfürst mine. It is often said that Argyrodite is the hardest of the silver sulphide/sulphosalt species to obtain in good specimens, but this is certainly a very fine one. Small, but stunning.