Acanthite

I don’t particularly like saying “this is one of the best specimens I have ever seen of the species” as it implies over-hyping and hence, crying wolf.  But rules are made to be broken and this small cabinet specimen of the silver sulphide Acanthite certainly is!  This specimen is from Niederschlema in the Erzgebirge district of Saxony and is an 8.1 x 6.2 cm plate of solid, graphite grey Acanthite with at least three quarters coverage over its top surface of superb, trigonal Acanthite crystals.  Each crystal is about 1 to 4 mm across, probably averaging 3 mm and are grey silver, although due to their bright metallic lustre appear almost entirely silver when examined under low magnification.  The base reveals patchy infillings of pale pink Calcite.  This is a quite remarkable specimen for Acanthite from Niederschlema and is destined to have a pride of place spot in someone’s collection.