Silver wires on Acanthite Vaux & Philadelphia Coll.

Item Description

A true, old-time classic from one of South America"s most important ancient economic silver mining districts. The matrix of this rather hefty specimen is heavily included by nests of very visible, curved and curled silver wires, that exhibit a wonderful, metallic-iridescent, patina. Sharp cubic crystals of acanthite to 1 cm on top are present, on massive acanthite ore. Rich patches of sparkly, greenish-brassy, marcasite are present, as well as cleary visible "ruby silver" pyrargyrite microcrystals! The mines at Colquechaca were in operation for hundreds of years and the heyday was from the 1880s to 1920s. Ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences and William Vaux Collections. Very rich silver ore! Hefty at 254 grams. Valued at $1000.