Silver (spinel twinned)

Item Description

This is a most elegant Silver specimen from the famous early 1980s finds at the New Nevada Mine in the old Batopilas silver district of Mexico. It shows a classic and very fine, herringbone pattern of crystallized spinel-twinned Silver crystals interlinked with one another almost resembling a loose cluster of gray feathers. These look a lot like more modern material from the Eleura Mine in Australia and often get mistaken for those silvers. However, it is a Mexican classic. The specimen is robust, not fragile and bendable as are so many from these finds, especially compared to Silvers found a few years later from here. The main branches on this artistic Silver are from 2 to 5 cm in length with the small, dendritic forms varying between 3 and 7 mm in length. This is a very sophisticated and aesthetic Native Silver piece from this historic locale with unusual style overall. It is robust enough to mail, when many are not. It also has a natural patina, and has not been (over)cleaned with acid or chemicals. Custom base included. Valued $2500-plus.