SOLD
MD-121293
Andorite
San Jose Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
Miniature, 4.0 x 3.0 x 0.8 cm
SOLD
From the new find in November 2004. Andorite is lead, silver, antimony sulfosalt and was named for the Hungarian mineral collector Andor von Semsey (1833-1923), who holds a remarkable distinction for having two mineral species named after him (andorite and semseyite). This mine at Oruro dates Spanish mining as far back as the year 1595 and was mined by Incan Indians for several centuries prior. In all the years of mining, these are undoubtedly, the worlds finest Andorites extant! These specimens were extracted from the same vein system worked by the father of Bolivian mineralogy, Federico Ahlfeld. Ahlfeld worked the San Jose mine and Itos mine (the other significant andorite locality at the same mountain in Oruro) when the mines were used predominantly as a major sources of tin to the United States during WWII. The best examples of the species have come from Bolivia. For the size, this is a very impressive specimen. The piece is a "classic," steel-grey, lustrous multi-layered crystal group of considerable size and quality. There is an association of rare prismatic, grey Zinkenite crystals and tiny whitish-yellow Cervantite as well. A very aesthetic and showy specimen, and is in AMAZINGLY good condition for this material.