Allargentum
specimen number:
2273020
location:
Wenzel Mine, Wolfach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
description: The Wenzel mine, located in the Frohnbach valley near Oberwolfach within the Kinzig river district of the central Black Forest, Germany, is a historic underground operation renowned for its rich silver-antimony veins. Geologically, the deposit consists of a steeply dipping hydrothermal barite-calcite vein system, known as the Wenzel vein, which cuts through Paleozoic paragneiss host rocks that are crosscut by granitic and pegmatitic intrusions. The vein mineralization is characterized by silver-bearing barite, calcite, and quartz, hosting specialized ores such as native silver, argentum, and dyscrasite. Silver mining at the site dates back to the early 14th century, though early operations were short-lived; a major revival began around 1760 under regional administration, leading to the mine's peak production era between 1760 and 1823. Over its lifespan, the workings produced approximately 4 tonnes of pure silver alongside secondary copper and lead products before commercial extraction finally ceased in 1842.
An excellent thumbnail for the species, well crystallized metallic allargentum on matrix. In great condition.
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