Proustite with Sternbergite

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Jáchymov (St. Joachimsthal) in the Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czech Republic is a famous silver mining town dating back to the Middle Ages. By the 16th century it was the second largest town in Bohemia. Mineralogically, it is an extremely important town, being the Type Locality of 53 species. This remarkable specimen features two of those Type Species - Proustite and Sternbergite. Miniature in size, it is dominated by long bladed dark blood-red Prousite crystals with Proustite matrix. The longest crystal reaches a staggering 3 cm in length. Sternbergite forms many black microcrystals scattered across the surfaces of the Proustite crystals. The specimen has many small cracks visible under magnification and has been stabilized to prevent any damage. This is an amazing Proustite from anywhere in the world, but being from the historic Type Locality takes it to another level.