Acanthite

$1,500.00

$40.00 shipping
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Ships from USA

Crystal ClassicsFeatured

Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,543 for sale·132 sold

This extremely rich crystallized Acanthite miniature is from the famous Himmelsfürst mine in the Freiberg District, Saxony, Germany. This was one of the most productive silver mines in the district and also produced some of the finest specimens too. Its main period of mining was from 1710-1896 although it continued until 1969. This specimen forms an aggregate of blocky but rounded dull grey metallic crystals with some areas showing natural internal etching/dissolution. Most of the rounded edges appear natural but further smoothing of the edges is likely from its considerable age. Acanthite should form monoclinic (bladed) crystals but its most common form is as pseudomorphs (replacements) after isometric (cubic) Argentite which is unstable below about 170 degrees C. This is what appears to have happened here: Acanthite pseudomorphous after Argentite. It is from the superb historic German collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).