Native Silver Wires — Miniature

$396.01
Chemical FormulaAg
Crystal SystemCubic
Mohs Hardness2.5–3
Specific Gravity10.5
LusterMetallic
TransparencyOpaque

Kongsberg Silver Mine, active from 1623 to 1957, produced native silver in forms unmatched anywhere: wire silver twisted into delicate knots, sheet silver, and arborescent silver ‘…

8 in stock

SKU: TC-MIN-0027
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Description

The universe has 13.8 billion years of history. Some of it fits in your hand. Kongsberg Silver Mine, active from 1623 to 1957, produced native silver in forms unmatched anywhere: wire silver twisted into delicate knots, sheet silver, and arborescent silver ‘trees’ weighing hundreds of kilograms. A Kongsberg wire silver specimen is a piece of Scandinavian mining history — and one of the most photogenic objects in mineralogy.

This specimen originates from Kongsberg, Numedal, Norway, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.

Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.

Formation

This specimen formed through geological processes operating over timescales that dwarf human history. The specific combination of chemistry, temperature, pressure, and time at this locality produced material of exceptional quality that makes it a valued addition to any serious collection.

Locality

Native Silver Wires — Miniature from Kongsberg, Numedal, Norway. This locality is known for producing specimens of exceptional quality.

Collector Notes

Handle with care; crystal terminations are irreplaceable once damaged.