rare Native Bismuth (Durkos and Robert Hauck Coll.)

Item Description

A really sharp, flattened native bismuth vein filling from the famous mines at Cobalt. This striking and sculptural specimen is shaped like a christmas tree and the luster, nubby surface and vertical furrow really adds character. It came through the noted John Durkos Collection to the Robert Hauck Silver Collection. The note on the back of the label says it was collected in the 1920s. The fine Cobalt District article in the current issue of Mineralogical Record states that "native bismuth does not occur as crystals in Cobalt area ores but does commonly occur as rich, coarsely crystallized, late-stage vein fillings". Very uncommon in this quality.