Andorite (great matrix specimen!)

Item Description

From the historic find of 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 which many experts considered 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 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 and quality, this is a very impressive specimen. The piece is comprised of very good quality, bright, metallic, lustrous, layered, steel-grey, crystals of the rare lead, silver, antimony sulfosalt Andorite sitting atop rare prismatic Zinkenite crystals. These are x-ray confirmed Zinkenite crystals, and not the more common acicular sulfide, Jamesonite. Very choice from this find, with the only real damage along the side of the specimen, but the piece does display beautifull as you can see from the photos. 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 MANY years. A wonderful opportunity to own a superb quality (and very good size) specimen of this rare mineral species on matrix! A very small percentage of the Andorites from this find were on matrix, and even less were approached this size. Valued at my inventory at $3500, one of, if not THE best I have offered of this material.