SILVER
Specimen siv-1

Dims: 2" x 1-1/4" x 1/4"

Wt: 25 g

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

One of our smaller Native Silver specimens, this piece was cut from a stone that was filled with dendritric Silver. One can see its branching effect in the stone and the metallic luster of the partially oxidized element. This is an excellent gift for that beginning collector or the budding lapidarist, for sometimes Silver in the host rock is shaped, polished, and used as a gemstone.

Dims: 2-3/4" x 1-1/2" x 1"

Wt: 3.5 oz

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

An excellent example of Native Silver in matrix, this item has the element in generous veins permeating a white Calcite matrix. I find it strange that the veins that have been exposed due to cutting have not oxidized appreciably. This is a suitable gift for a lapidarist, or even a young collector that really wants a Silver specimen!

Dims: 1-1/4" x 3/4" x 1/2"

Wt: 1.1oz

Colorado, U.S.A.

It's not enough just to say that this specimen is an example of rare, Native Silver. I must also add that, as you have seen in its picture, it has a dendritic form, which is an uncommon occurrence for native metal elements. It shows heavy oxidation, as one can see by its blackened color and lack of metallic luster. There seems to be some massive/granular calcite that is clinging to the specimen, also. It is hot-glued onto an acrylic base. Though quite small, it's a terrific specimen, and certainly unusual enough to be of interest to the serious collector.

Dims: 1-1/4" x 7/8" x 3/16"

Wt: 2.4 g. w/ foam base

White Pine Mine, Ontonagon Co., Michigan, U.S.A.

Delicate, complex dendritic tendrils are the form that the silver takes in this exceptional Keweenaw Peninsula Silver specimen. There are two main "branches" that each split into several offshoots. The silver is free from oxidation and has a wonderful white silvery color and metallic luster. A considerable amount of what appears to be shale or basalt is attached to one side of the specimen where the offshoots of each branch occur, making a dark backdrop that enables one to easily define the Silver's complex form. There are a few small portions of this matrix on the other side of the specimen, as well as a small amount of white, rhombohedral calcite near the specimen's base. The piece is glued to a foam base that is wedged into the bottom of a plastic specimen box. It's a joy for me to examine this up close!

Dims: 4.7" x 4.2" x 3.2"

Wt: 3 lbs., 4.5 oz (1.485 kg)

Veta Grande, Zacatecas, Mexico

The native Silver in this specimen takes the form of many small tangles of fine wire that inhabit crevices in a massive chalcopyrite host rock. Though difficult to see clearly in our close-up image, one particular crevice extends about 2 inches along the host rock's surface. There are many fine wires of native Silver tangled together in this crevice, along with some iron (and possibly silver) sulfide minerals and many tiny, white quartz and amethyst crystals. The Silver has a bright, white metallic color and dull metallic luster, and some are slightly oxidized and have an almost reddish-brown coloration. There are dozens of crevices in the host rock, and several of them show concentrations of silver, though not as intensely as the largest crevice. There is most likely more silver inside this host rock, but one cannot be certain how much there is.

Dims: 1.9" x 1.3" x 0.9" (4.8 x 3.3 x 2.3 cm)

Wt: 18.4 g

Uchuc-chaqua Mine, Lima Department, Peru

This Peruvian native Silver specimen is one of the prettiest that I have seen. It consists of at least 6 different sections of wire that permeate a quartzite host rock. The largest of these sections has a visible length of at least 1" (2.5 cm), and splits into 2 wires for slightly less than half of its length. The others are considerably shorter, and most of these are quite small. All show a tarnished silvery-white color and a metallic luster that is standard for silver, and the largest wire shows some lovely coloration due to oxidation. Though small, it is a splendid piece from a lesser-known locality.

Dims: 3.0" x 2.9" x 0.5" (7.6 x 7.4 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 6.19 oz. (175.5 g)

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

This intriguing specimen consists of a cut slab of a white calcareous matrix in which rests countless formations of skutterudite, a cobalt arsenide mineral- most of the specimen is made up of this material. However, there is a small amount of a dark gray host rock, and at least one vein of native sheet Silver runs through it. The Silver, though heavily tarnished to an almost black color, still shows a metallic luster along the cut surface, and hints of a silvery-white coloration are visible on the small rough areas. It shows no discernable form. The skutterudite shows a very odd form that is reminiscent of frost patterns on a window, but I hesitate to call it a "dendritic" form. It has a bright, silvery-white color and a metallic luster like the Silver, though it is not quite as easy to examine.

Dims: 1.9" x 1.0" x 0.5" (4.8 x 2.5 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 25.3 g

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

This thumbnail specimen consists of a mass of native Silver that is partially enveloped by its calcite matrix rock. The Silver does not appear to have any crystalline form and seems to be free from any major human-induced damage. Its color ranges from a moderately dark to a bright silvery-gray and its luster ranges from a dull to a bright metallic. Given the intense difference in color and luster of some of the Silver in this specimen, I am thinking that some of it might be native Arsenic instead of Silver, but I really cannot be certain.

Dims: 1.5 x 1.3 x 0.4" (3.8 x 3.3 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 1.37 oz. (39.0 g)

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

Most of this specimen's mass appears to be made up of native Silver. This Silver has no definite crystal form, so therefore damage cannot be accurately assessed. There are a few aspects of this piece that confuse me, though. The Silver can be easily seen as patches of a bright, silvery-white material with a bright metallic luster amidst the dull gray and white of the surrounding matrix rock. There are also some darker formations protruding from the matrix whose form are indicative of the metal. However, one entire side of the flat piece is covered with a material that I don't believe is native Silver, though it also shows the bright color and luster in areas. It also shows parallel striations on the metal that run the width of the specimen, and one particular formation that reminds me very much of some of the native bismuth specimens that we have had for sale. I may well be wrong, but this formation just makes me think about bismuth! The matrix is white and slightly chalky in areas, and I believe that it is calcareous in composition.

Dims: 1.4 x 0.8 x 0.4" (3.6 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 14.5 g

Sombrerette, Mexico

This small thumbnail specimen consists of a thin but noticeable vein of native Silver that extends completely through an amorphous piece of bornite and chalcopyrite base rock. This vein shows absolutely no crystalline form and is only discernable from the surrounding host rock because of its silvery-white coloration. With some careful work, one should be able to remove some of the surrounding host rock to expose the vein.

Dims: 2.0 x 1.5 x 0.5" (5.1 x 3.8 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 16.2 g

Sombrerette, Mexico

This thumbnail specimen consists of a thin but broad sheet of native Silver to which is attached a small amount of chalcopyrite/bornite host rock. The silver sheet ran through the host rock, most of which has been removed. It lacks any crystalline form and generally has the colors and dull metallic luster of the surrounding rock, but a few spots on its edge show the silvery-white coloration that one might expect. A few tiny pieces of white crystalline quartz or calcite also rest on the sheet.

Dims: 1.5 x 0.9 x 0.8" (3.8 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 16.6 g w/ base

Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico

This thumbnail specimen consists of a intergrown "cluster" of amorphous Native Silver sheets. These sheets vary widely in size, and a few are bent and curled, as if they were heavily jarred sometime after mining. However, there is no visible fresh damage. The color and luster of the Silver varies widely- some blades have just a faint patina of tarnish, adding an almost pink coloration to their metallic luster, whereas other blades are almost black with oxidation. Accompanying the Silver on its base (which appears to be igneous) are several crusts and smatterings of calcite, some of which have the shiny, curved faces that suggest partial dissolution in acid. On the dark gray host rock rest several tiny, brown garnets- I cannot determine what variety of garnet they are, though. Their dodecahedral form is slightly warped but still discernable, and their luster is nearly adamantine upon first glance. The specimen is hot-glued onto a flat, square acrylic base.

Dims: 1.0 x 0.9 x 0.8" (2.5 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 17.9 g

El Bonanza Mine, Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada

This Native Silver specimen is one of the most delicate that I have seen, and in my opinion, one of the prettiest. It consists of several complex, crystalline dendritic formations of Native Silver that are partially embedded in what appears to be quartzite. The formations appear to be in excellent condition, showing very little damage, and are incredibly well-formed- my 10-power loupe is not strong enough for me to see all of the details therein. It has the classic silvery-white coloration with a slight pink hue and faintly dull metallic luster that denotes mild tarnishing. The tips of some of the dendritic formations are further oxidized to an almost black color and a dull luster. Several of these formations are coated with thin crusts of what is likely a gray-white semicrystalline quartz or quartzite. This quartzite is part of the host rock, which is permeated with many of these dendritic formations. Examination with the loupe has produced some surprises, however; a few of the formations are capped with tiny, violet fluorite cubes. These cubes measure less than 1 mm in diameter and appear to have good form, though 20 or 30x magnification would be better for close study.

Dims: 7.0 x 4.2 x 0.7" (17.8 x 10.7 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 7.9 oz. (678 g)

Echo Bay Mine, Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada

This large specimen consists of a polished slab with rough edges that contains a substantial amount of Native Silver. The Silver is easily visible on the polished faces, as its silvery-white color and metallic luster contrast quite well with the pink and gray host rock. Though actual crystal form has been destroyed by the cutting and polishing, a substantial portion of the visible metal shows definite dendritic formations that are indicative of crystal structure. Several other bits of silver that are scattered on the polished surface of the host rock do not show any form whatsoever. It is accompanied by several tiny bits of native gold, and some of the Silver looks as if it may have combined with the gold, as its color is slighty different than that of other areas. The host rock appears to be made of limestone, but it does not react with hydrochloric acid. Thus, I am thinking it consists primarily of quartzite and other silicic materials.

Dims: 2.1 x 1.2 x 1.2" (5.3 x 3.1 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 1.61 oz. (45.7 g)

El Bonanza Mine, Port Radium, Northwest Territory, Canada

Veins of arborescent, nearly dendritic Silver extend through part of the host rock of this specimen. These silver formations are quite delicate but in excellent condition, showing the silvery-white color that is slightly tarnished and the standard metallic luster. A few of the formations appear to be lightly coated with calcite or some other material. This piece is excellent for examination under a microscope or loupe, as the formations have very fine detail.

Dims: 1.5x0.23x1.6" (3.8x0.6x4.0 cm)

Wt: 0.43 oz. (12.1g)

La Rose Mine, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

This is an excellent silver leaf, showing how silver can be found as flat leafs in cracks in a host rock. The silver is amost perfectly flat (although with a rough texture); I suspect that the curve and fold at one corner were formed when the specimen was harvested. While a dusting of the black host rock remains embedded in the surface, the silver still manages a silver metallic shine.

Dims: 1.3x0.2x1.5" (3.2x0.6x3.9 cm)

Wt: 0.2 oz. (4.3g)

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

Nearly all silver, this leaf has a dull, brownish-white appearance. Perhaps the silver is alloyed with enough copper to yellow the normal silver color. There remains a small amount of the black host rock that was otherwise removed to expose this specimen. Under a loupe, it appears that a silvery white coating (looks like silver metal) coats an underlying coppery metal, which I suspect is the copper/silver alloy.

Dims: 1.22x0.35x0.12" (3.11x0.89x0.30cm)

Wt: 1.4ct (0.28g)

Keenly-Frontier Mine, Lorrain Township, Ontario, Canada

This is a nice little example of silver wire. Actually, iunder a loupe it looks like a stranded silver wire, rather frayed in the middle where the specimen has a sharp bend. ANd while most of the specimen is silver in color, near the frayed (bent) area there are coppery sections on the inside, plus some areas of corrosion or possibly bornite. A really high power loupe reveals that this silver wire is composed of a number of strands, each of which resolves into many acicular silver fibers.

Dims: 1.79x1.54x0.05" (4.55x3.91x0.14cm)

Wt: 0.47oz (13.2g)

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

This specimen of silver leaf was formed between layers of shale. The silver has a rough texture (impressed by the shale), and a white color due to weathering. Only a loupe reveals any indication of crystal form. Around the edges of the specimen, there are quite a few tiny areas showing crystal form near the outer reaches of the specimen.

dims mm=21.1x13.64x9.42

wt g=3.8

Silver Islet Mine, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

This specimen is mostly silver showing various degrees of tarnish. The silver is in the form of intricately twisted braids that can be best appreciated when viewed with a loupe.