Detailed information
Species
Moschellandsbergite, Siderite
Dimensions
33 x 36 x 20
mm
Weight
76 g
Locality
Landsberg (Moschellandsberg) Alsenz-Obermoschel, Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Condition
No recorded repairs
Sometimes a miniature specimen seems ginormous in size. Moschellandsbergite is an extremely rare natural silver-mercury alloy named after the hill at Moschellandsberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany where it was first discovered. It usually occurs in small crystals, or small globular masses off matrix. This miniature specimen of Moschellandsbergite, from the Type Locality, is super rich, consisting of large masses of compact brassy, to pale golden, submetallic Moschellandsbergite alongside a small piece of rock matrix. The Moschellandsbergite areas reach about 1 cm across, but join, pervading the whole specimen. The outer surfaces of Moschellandsbergite are coated with a combination of minute fudge-coloured Siderite crystals and an unidentified dark grey phase that could be Metacinnabar or maybe even something more exotic. This is a really rich, significant, and interesting specimen from one of Europe's most famous mercury mining areas.