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Identity HelpOld Pyrargyrite Label

24th Jul 2016 21:54 UTCRudy Bolona Expert

I recently acquired this pyrargyrite from Harz, Germany. It came with an old label. It's that fanciful style that was used during the 19th and early 20th century. Nobody writes like this anymore. Identified as crystallized red silver also the word "conicle" is on the label. Was this used to describe the crystal structure? Any guesses as to the time period of this label? By the way, the specimen is absolutely beautiful, super lustrous and glows red. It's 1.3 cm x 1cm. Photos are included.

25th Jul 2016 00:25 UTCAlan Pribula

Rudy:

Rather than "conicle," could it be the word "oxide" in parentheses? Since pyrargyrite isn't an oxide, it wouldn't make much chemical/mineralogical sense, but perhaps at one time it was thought to be one? Or the person who wrote the label mis-identified the sample? Just a thought.

25th Jul 2016 00:35 UTCJohan Kjellman Expert

Rudy,

I think the last word is in brackets, maybe "[oxide]" - if not it is rather "conicles".

Both equally unexplainable??

cheers

25th Jul 2016 00:37 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

When I saw that label, the first thing that came to mind was the word "(oxide)" in parentheses, which didn't make sense, so I kept quiet, but I'd had the same thought as Alan. Perhaps a label written by someone who didn't know minerals very well? ...who thought pyrargyrite was red analogous to cuprite? We have to keep in mind that not every label is written by a knowledgeable collector. But perhaps we are misreading it and someone will come up with a better explanation...

And I agree with Rudy that it's a lovely specimen!

25th Jul 2016 16:19 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Looks like proustite!

25th Jul 2016 19:36 UTCRudy Bolona Expert

It probably is oxide, but since pyrargyrite is not an oxide it did not register with me. I was thinking proustite also, but the crystal terminations are more like that of pyrargyrite.

25th Jul 2016 20:20 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

It's a question of As or Sb dominance, the terminations are the same. Some claim they can nail them by colour, but I'm not so sure.;-)

25th Jul 2016 21:45 UTCRichard Gunter Expert

If the sample is Proustite it has been well protected from sunlight through its post-collection history; these can darken fairly quickly. Are there any other phases on the back that are Sb or As minerals? That might give a clue to the chemistry.

25th Jul 2016 22:27 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Even if it is Pyrargyrite, it has been well cared for. Pyrargyrite is darker than proustite and both darken, but proustite is faster. Some years ago Dominik Schlaefli photoed Imiter proustite under normal microscope illumination and the darkening was very noticeable with in 10 minutes!

26th Jul 2016 00:52 UTCRudy Bolona Expert

The specimen glows red under a lamp such as the one I used for the photos, but once in dim light it goes back to dark grey-black. The dealer I bought it from had it labeled as pyrargyrite.

26th Jul 2016 01:05 UTCThomas Lühr Expert

As a collector who lives at the Harz mts. and exclusively collects minerals from Harz (although focussed a bit more to the east) I'd like to add my two cents to this topic.

I can't say whether it is proustite or pyrargyrite, but I agree with Rob the colour leads me more to proustite. The ONLY locality in the Harz where a proustite in such size may come from is one of the mines in the St. Anderasberg district. On the other hand, Proustite is MUCH more rarer there than Pyrargyrite, unlike to the Schneeberg district in Saxony, where it's inversely.

In case it is indeed from the Harz (no reason to doubt it) and it is really proustite then it is from St. Andreasberg - and a treasure !

St. Andreasberg would be also the very most likely locality for pyrargyrite.

Thomas

26th Jul 2016 02:48 UTCRudy Bolona Expert

The specimen is just dazzling in person. Knowing the behavior of these ruby silvers in light does cause a bit of paranoia though. I'm keeping in a box out of the light. I got lucky with this one. I found it on Ebay for a real good price. This thing would be a lot more at one of the big shows.

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