Andorite (large good quality crystals)

Item Description

From the great find of November 2004. Andorite is a rare and desirable silver, lead, 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., 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. This specimen consists of good quality, large, layered, steel-grey, semi-lustrous striated crystals of this rare lead, silver, antimony sulfosalt with no matrix. Now the piece is not completely damage free as it is contacted along the back area where it grew against the pocket wall, but there are still fine quality, well-terminated crystals to be seen! It is very difficult to find any samples of this mineral on the market today, and until 2004 the locality had not produced specimens in MANY years. A wonderful opportunity to own a very nice specimen of this rare mineral species, with LARGE crystals. If this specimen was damage free, I could easily see it retailing for around $3,000, but the damage does reduce the value. Considering that no new specimens are coming out, the value of these pieces will surely increase as I'm told that the part of the mine which produced these specimens is finished.