Detailed information
Species
Acanthite, ps. after Argentite, Pyrite
Dimensions
49 x 52 x 22
mm
Locality
Medenec (Kupferberg), Klášterec nad Ohrí Krušné Hory Mts, Ústí Region Bohemia, Czech Republic
Condition
No recorded repairs
Previously labelled as Argentite, this well-crystallized silver sulphide specimen is now interpretted as Acanthite pseudomorphs after blocky Argentite crystals, as Argentite is not stable at lower temperatures, converting quickly to Acanthite which maintains its crystal shape. This extremely rich silver-ore specimen is very much characteristic or the mines at Medenec (Kupferberg) in the Krušné Hory Mts, Bohemia, Czechia although specimens are now so rarely seen available. The dark grey metallic Acanthite crystals are really well-formed and in great condition, on a layer of fine-grained Pyrite. They reach up to 9 mm across in size. Ex Hans Engelbrecht Collection, no. 4188, acquired by him in 1983.
