As-Pb rich Galena (Steinmannite) and Baryte

Item Description

The ancient mining district at Pribram dates back many centuries, and was one of the major silver, lead and zinc producers in all of Europe. Even though the area was filled with lead, good specimens of crystallized Galena are nearly impossible to obtain from Pribram and are important historically. Steinmannit was the name given to what is now realized to be an Arsenic-Antimony rich galena. Originally described by Zippe (1834) as nodular grey aggregates from Přibram, Bohemia; these aggregates are typical of the material. This unusual matrix specimen is interesting in that it shows how such things form, in metal deposits like this, by the nature of the piece. It has rivers of Galena, gun-metal grey and lustrous, flowing along each side. Smack in the middle of one side is a pocket of Barytes containing several, well-crystallized Galenas that are 5 mm on edge. These Galena crystals are octahedral, and they have nicely-beveled edges. They sit perfectly in the pocket, like eggs in a carefully produced nest. Aesthetic, and desirable for this famous locality. These pieces are part of a century-old Italian collection that was recently acquired. Its historic nature, aside from the sheer age of the specimens, is reflected in how dramatically geopolitical borders have changed since these labels were created.