Detailed information
Species
Pyrargyrite , Smithsonite
Dimensions
58 x 42 x 21
mm
Locality
Broken Hill Proprietary Mine, Broken Hill Yancowinna Co., New South Wales Australia
Condition
No recorded repairs
A rare specimen of metallic, lustrous dark grey Pyrargyrite crystals measuring to 5 mm, intergrown with a drusy layer of brown Smithsonite. This splendid example is from the Proprietary mine at Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. Pyrargyrite, a silver sulphosalt, is a species seldom seen in collections from the Broken Hill orebody. Just checking on mindat there are only three photos of Pyrargyrite from the entirety of the Broken Hill mining district; all three being from Browne's shaft in the old Junction mine, now in Block 39 of North Mine. The Pyrargyrite crystals are tarnished to a characteristic silver-grey, but if strongly back-lit, it is possible the true blood red colour might become apparent. Surrounding the Pyrargyrite crystals is a dense druse of greenish-tan to biscuit-tan micro-crystals of Smithsonite. This will make a superb addition to any Broken Hill collection.