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ex. Dr. Edward David ex. Sir Robert Ferguson
There are classic old mineral specimens that predate the 20th century. Then there are the true oldtimers that predate the 19th century, like this pyrargyrite from the Ferguson Collection, circa 1800 (he had stopped collecting by 1810, it is thought). Dendritic crystals of lustrous, black pyrargyrite to 5.0 cm in length are emplaced the length of a flat gray limestone matrix. Even the back side is interesting with a mass of spongy, dark gray silver and ore. When historically important specimens, like this from St. Andreasberg in the Harz Mountains, are also visually important, a pretty specimen becomes significant beyond its eye appeal. This is a piece that is MUCH better in person, and impresses even those who do not collect the silver species. The crystals have a slight red overtone, and definite lustre to them. I have known the piece since 1998 when this collection came to light in London, when it resurfaced from the family's estate after being passed through the generations largely untouched. It has never been on the market since 1800! Still carries the $15000 tag on it, price Ed Paid originally, from Herb Obodda when Herb got back with specimens from this collection. For more on Robert Ferguson, click here
WOW! What a thumber! This BRILLIANTLY-LUSTROUS, MIRROR-BRIGHT, COMPLETE, STUNNING crystal of stephanite is perched upon a small knoll of white crystalline quartz matrix , and is complete all around save for two inconsequential dings. From its base protrudes a small pyrargyrite as a bonus. This is just as much of a smoker for the species as I have ever seen, and the big surprise is that it is miraculously in as good a condition as it is given the softness of the species. Ex. Dave Bunk specimen so you know it is what it says it is. Now, the matrix is darned hard to get to show up well when aiming for gettign a good pic of the crystal, so we are showing it in the upside-down pic to the lower-left for clarification. Note the bottom-right pics shows the gemmy red of the pyrargyrite when backlit.
A bright, complex cluster of outstanding german pyrargyrite crystals! Better in person!
A superb, old-style pyrargyrite nicely isolated on contrasting, sparkly calcite matrix. This is a rare old habit an dstyle! ex. American Museum of Natural History. The crystal is 1.3 cm tall.
A sharp, twinned pyrargyrite that is complete all around and beautiful - a killer thumbnail! ex. American Museum of Natural History , Clarence Bement collection, donated in 1910 (label is present, just not shown) . Comes with xerox of the museum accession records, dated june of 1871 ! He purchased this as part of a large group of such specimens.
ex. Carl Rumpff ex. Prince Stephan von Habsburg-Lothringen
A valid Prince Stefan rock from the mid 1800s! Not only that, but its a good one, with juicy little red pyrargyrites ensconced with sharp galenas in contrasting quartz! Prince Stefan was an Archduke of Austria an da highly regarded mineral collector.
ex. Martin Lewadny
Choice cluster of glassy-lustrous, deep silvery-red Pyrargyrite crystals from the famous locality of Fresnillo. The largest blocky crystal ranges to 2 cm in length, and the overall appearance of these Pyrargyrites is eye-catching with lots of faces flashing reflections in all directions. Add some good lighting, and it glows cherry-red.
5.3 x 4.3 x 3.4 cm. A lustrous, sharp, 1.1 cm, ruby silver, pyrargyrite crystal jauntily perched on the side of mountain-shaped sulfide matrix with spider web quartz veins from the famous Lill Mine at Pribram. This classic, old-time and showy piece was mined 1890-1900 according to the Joself Vajdak label, a Pribram specialist.
2.9 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm. A HUGE, sharp, pristine and complete all-around pyrargyrite crystal from Freiberg with good lustre. The bit of quartz and embedded sufides are a nice accent. The backlit photo highlights the gemmy red areas, showing why these are called "ruby silvers." Ex. George Elling Collection.
1.6 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm. A pristine, ruby-silver pyrargyrite tower surrounded by smaller crystals from St. Andreasberg, Germany. An aesthetic thumbnail from the Dean Martalock and Seaman Museum Collections.
1.8 x 1.8 x 1.6 cm. An old-time, classic and showy thumbnail cluster of gemmy, deep cherry-red pyrargyrite crystals on massive pyrargyrite matrix from St. Andreasberg, Germany. The dominating 6 mm crystal with the nice striations makes this "ruby silver" an attractive specimen. Ex. Dick Jones Collection.
7.2 x 4.8 x 3.7 cm. Pyrargyrite is of course an extremely rare and sought-after silver mineral. It is a gemmy, very deep red, with glassy luster. Here, the cluster of pyrargyrite is isolated in contrasting white calcite of two crystal forms.
2.2 x 1.6 x 1.1 cm. An aesthetic floater toenail of sharp, lustrous, dark gray pyrargyrite crystals from Freiberg, Germany. Classic, old-time and pristine material from the Carl Davis Collection.
2.0 x 1.0 x 1.0 cm. An excellent and showy thumbnail cluster of sharp, lustrous, battleship-gray pyrargyrite crystals from the famous mines of Guanajuato, Mexico. A classic and fine silver sulfosalt specimen from this well-known locality. Light contacting in the front of the piece is certainly not a detraction. Ex. Dick Jones Collection.
2.0 x 1.8 x 1.8 cm. An excellent and showy pincushion thumbnail of highly lustrous, pyrargyrite prisms from the very famous Rayas Mine at Guanajuato, Mexico. Recent and classic material from this historic locality.
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share specimen![Pyrargyrite from St. Andreasberg , Harz Mtns, Germany [db_pics/pics/153ca.jpg]](db_pics/pics/153ca.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from St. Andreasberg , Harz Mtns, Germany [db_pics/pics/153cb.jpg]](db_pics/pics/153cb.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from St. Andreasberg , Harz Mtns, Germany [db_pics/pics/153cc.jpg]](db_pics/pics/153cc.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from St. Andreasberg , Harz Mtns, Germany [db_pics/pics/153cd.jpg]](db_pics/pics/153cd.jpg)
![Stephanite with Pyrargyrite from San Luis Mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/pics/4jg20a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg20a.jpg)
![Stephanite with Pyrargyrite from San Luis Mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/pics/4jg20b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg20b.jpg)
![Stephanite with Pyrargyrite from San Luis Mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/pics/4jg20c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg20c.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from FREIBERG, SAXONY, GERMANY [db_pics/pics/4mc1a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4mc1a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from FREIBERG, SAXONY, GERMANY [db_pics/pics/4mc1b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4mc1b.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Calcite from Guanajuato, Mexico [db_pics/pics/bem-34a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/bem-34a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Calcite from Guanajuato, Mexico [db_pics/pics/bem-34b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/bem-34b.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Freiberg, Saxony, Germany [db_pics/pics/bem-54a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/bem-54a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Galena and Quartz from Ratiboritz, NR, Tabor, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia [db_pics/pics/d06-234a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/d06-234a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Galena and Quartz from Ratiboritz, NR, Tabor, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia [db_pics/pics/d06-234b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/d06-234b.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Galena and Quartz from Ratiboritz, NR, Tabor, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia [db_pics/pics/d06-234c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/d06-234c.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite on Galena and Quartz from Ratiboritz, NR, Tabor, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia [db_pics/pics/d06-234d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/d06-234d.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite (floater) from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/new2010/LTH58A.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH58A.JPG)
![Pyrargyrite (floater) from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/new2010/LTH58B.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH58B.JPG)
![Pyrargyrite (floater) from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/new2010/LTH58C.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH58C.JPG)
![Pyrargyrite (floater) from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [db_pics/new2010/lth58z.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/lth58z.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Lill Mine, Black pits deposit, Březové Hory (Birkenberg), Příbram, Central Bohemia Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic [db_pics/mdpics/MD-114123a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-114123a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Freiberg, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany [db_pics/mdpics/MD-118465a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/m/MD-118465a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz Mts, Lower Saxony, Germany [db_pics/mdpics/MD-118501a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-118501a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz Mts, Lower Saxony, Germany [db_pics/mdpics/MD-119630a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-119630a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru [db_pics/mdpics/MD-119805a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-119805a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru [db_pics/mdpics/MD-119805b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-119805b.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Freiberg, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany [db_pics/mdpics/MD-130323a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-130323a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Freiberg, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany [db_pics/mdpics/MD-130323b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-130323b.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from Guanajuato, Mun. de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-139570a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-139570a.jpg)
![Pyrargyrite from San Juan de Rayas Mine (Rayas Mine; Reyes Mine), Guanajuato, Mun. de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-142380a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-142380a.jpg)