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ACN-01 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 38793 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco thumbnail, 2.8 x 1.8 x 1.4 cm
Showing off the sharp octahedral form of the original argentite, this acanthite pseudomorph has fine form and super metallic luster. The crystal is as sharp as a spear head, which it greatly resembles. Complete all around, lustrous, and Very showy!
ACN-02 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 206897 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco miniature, 4.6 x 3.3 x 3.1 cm
A complete floater clustered around a pagoda-like 3-cm-tall central crystal, with no visible point of attachment, this specimen of acanthite after argentite is just incredible. It has LUSTRE, for starters. Most of the octahedral, splendent, dark gray crystals, to 1.25 cm in length, have grown on top of each other, making the specimen look very much like a cityscape of Chinese pagodas or of South African hausmannite which you could easily mistake this for (though it would be about the best imagineable hausmannite quality!). Aesthetic and mesmerizing full miniature specimen, from this new find.
ACN-03 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 646552 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco small cabinet, 8.3 x 5.2 x 3.4 cm
This is a larger version of the previous specimen and even more spectacular. This new find has lustre - bright sparkling lustre that is hard to convey in photos and quite another world from the appearance of previous finds here. It is a complete floater with no visible point of attachment. The acanthite after argentite crystals are octahedral in form, elegantly elongated to over 3 cm in length. They have splendent luster and a dark jet black color, with individual crystals reaching 3 cm in length. Most of the crystals have grown on top of each other and the overall appearance is that of a city of Chinese pagodas or even South African hausmannite specimens. Absolutely a world class example of acanthite, and frankly inexpensive compared to what similar-sized examples of the species in this relative quality level might cost from old Germany, classic old Mexican, and the new China finds (all in the multi-five-figure range)! In person, i will guarantee this to be as mesmerizing as my hyperbole here claims.
ACN-04 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 215517 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco small cabinet, 6.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 cm
This specimen of octahedral, splendent, jet-black acanthite after argentite, has individual elongated octohedral crystals to 3.5 cm in length shooting from a central cluster. The overall effect is that of a Chinese pagoda, with most of the crystals on top of each other. This new find has lustre - bright sparkling lustre that is hard to convey in photos and quite another world from the appearance of previous finds here. It is nearly a complete floater with no visible point of attachment, with only a small rough area near the base; which as a bonus, is a vug at the lower right edge filled with a druse of cherry red proustite. Complete all around, elegantly vertical, this is a superb acanthite by any standard from any other locality.
ACN-05 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 431034 SOLD Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco small cabinet, 7.0 x 6.9 x 3.8 cm
A hefty and massive, large specimen, this is a floater without a visible point of attachment, complete all around! This very impressive acanthite after argentite has octahedral, splendent, jet-black individual crystals to 2.3 cm in length. The crystals on the right-hand side are mostly single sharp octos while those on the left side have grown one atop another, forming a vivid resemblance to Chinese pagodas. This new find has lustre - bright sparkling lustre that is hard to convey in photos and quite another world from the appearance of previous finds here. Small druses of proustite are present at the bottom of the backside. This large, important specimen has real presence in person, and stands as a major acanthite from any locality, though I feel these new Moroccan pieces are priced less for their quality than similarly recent acanthites (of somewhat different habit) coming out of China now.
ACN-06 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 172414 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco small cabinet, 6.1 x 4.6 x 4.3 cm
This specimen of acathite after argentite features a series of stacked, octahedral, splendent, jet-black crystals, to 1.8 cm in length. the crystals literally leap out from a matrix of calcite, silver ore, and massive acanthite (few specimens ahve any matrix, here). This new find has lustre - bright sparkling lustre that is hard to convey in photos and quite another world from the appearance of previous finds here. I particularly like the angled group at the top of the specimen, which features a birdlike crystal cluster of 2.4 cm atop. This is a superb, elegant acanthite by any standard, quite different from Mexican and Chinese and German acanthites we might have seen previously.
ACN-07 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 107759 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco miniature, 5.3 x 4.2 x 2.2 cm
A stunning miniature! This acanthite replacement after argentite is highlighted by the two crystals at the apex of the specimen. The one on the right is doubly terminated and measures 1.5 cm in length. The one on the left has unusually curved edges and measures 1.8 cm in length - very strange crystal, that is mesmerizing! All the crystals are octahedral, with splendent luster and a jet-black color that is hard to convey because it is lustrous. This is a superb, elegant acanthite by any standard, quite different from Mexican and Chinese and German acanthites we might have seen previously
ACN-08 - Acanthite ps. Argentite - ¥ 64655 Imiter Mine, Atlas Mountains, Quarzazate Province, Morocco miniature, 3 x 2.5 x 2 cm
This specimen of acanthite after argentite features two splendent, dark gray, stretched octahedral crystals, to 2.5 cm in length. The larger crystal is doubly terminated with slightly curved crystal edges. It is complete all around, has wet lustre (much better in person!), and is SHARP. An aesthetic competition quality small miniature or toenail! All Content and Design ©1996-2010 The ArkenstoneBy-species Galleries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
