Friday Update – Czechia

TODAY the true class of Czech minerals can be seen, and there is as one might expect a strong emphasis on silver ores. There is also an even greater bias towards the north and west of Czechia, specifically the region known as Bohemia. The one exception is a very classy Epidote from the famous historic occurrence at Farský Dul, near Sobotín in the geographic region of Moravia.

Of the silver ores, Diaphorite stands out as the exceptional rarity, coming from Príbram – the Type Locality – and even at 4 mm in length the crystals are world-class. Not surprisingly it has a fine pedigree, having once been owned by Clarence Bement (1843-1923).

For a showier piece, the Xanthoconite, Prousite and Stephanite silver assemblage on botryoidal Native Arsenic with flashes of white Calcite blades from Jáchymov (St. Joachimsthal) is certainly magnificent. Sculptural in form and with flashes of bright colour this specimen also comes with a prestigious history, from the collection of Dr Lothar Burghardt (1883-1956) and the American Museum of Natural History.

There are other ore minerals, including superb crystals of Bournonite, Cassiterite and Acanthite, and gangue minerals too, including Calcite, Quartz, Baryte, Fluorite and one of the rare gemmy Aragonite crystals from the 19th century find at Číčov hill.

Enjoy looking through them and learning more about the mineralogy of this important country, which, due to its history of mining and proximity to the Mining School at Freiberg, was intimately involved in the foundations of mineralogy as a science.

Time now for the weekend. See you next Tuesday when we delve into precious metals.

Please note: Today's featured specimens are all situated at our UK showroom.