Detailed information
Species
Acanthite
Dimensions
45 x 30 x 18
mm
Weight
22 g
Locality
Santa Rita Mine (Bolañitos Mine) La Luz, Guanajuato Municipality Guanajuato, Mexico
Condition
No recorded repairs
This wonderful historical silver-bearing specimen is specifically documented as from Santa Rita mine (Bolañitos mine) in the heart of Guanajuato town. This level of provenance is exceptional for its age. It is accompanied by two very old German labels, one dating to the 19th century, the other, a Heidelberger Mineralien-Comptoir label probably also so, as that dealership opened in 1804 and ran for 125 years. It is that second label that provides the detail. The Guanajuato silver mining district in Mexico is one of the most famous in the whole world. At its height, in the late 18th century, it was the world's leading silver producer with one mine - Valenciana mine - producing almost a third of the world's supply. Remarkably, this district is still mining to this day, showing an amazing longevity. The specimen itself, is a fine large miniature and features a very well-defined and large cuboid Acanthite crystal, over 2 cm in length. A fine Mexican silver specimen from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).