SOLD
MD-57243
Andorite
San Jose Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
Miniature, 3.9 x 3.4 x 1.0 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). I personally acquired the entire lot of ALL the good crystals that came into the U.S. over the last few months and many experts considered it to be such a significant find, that it completely redefined Andorite as a crystallized species. 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 world's 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 This piece is a superb, large, sharp, highly displayable, bright, lustrous, silvery color, layered crystal group of this rare lead, silver, antimony sulfosalt associated with lustrous, rare, prismatic Zinkenite. It is a beautiful specimen and of the best pieces from the find! It is very difficult to find any samples of this mineral on the market today, and until very recently, the locality had not produced specimens in approximately 30 years. A wonderful opportunity to own a superb specimen of this rare mineral species! There are a few contacts on the side of the specimen where it clearly detached from the pocket, but for a layered, multi-crystallized specimen such as this, the damage is hardly distracting, and the piece still displays with an amazing amount of flair and character. 5.6 x 5.0 x 2.5