From the collections of William S. Vaux (1811-1882), a true classic from South America's most important ancient economic silver mine. The matrix of this rather hefty specimen is heavily included by patches of very visible, silver wires that exhibit a wonderful, metallic-iridescent, patina. Sharp cubic crystals of acanthite to 1 cm on top are present, on massive acanthite ore. The mines at Colquechaca have been in operation for hundreds of years. This specimen was from the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science collection and was contributed by one of its founding families.