Antimony with Gold, Quartz

specimen number:
2262208

location:
Kharma Mine, Quime, Inquisivi, Bolivia

description:
Bright rich masses of native antimony with minor gold and quartz. Choice and rather neat example for this native element. The specimen comes with a previous data card with an acquisition date in August, 1966.

The Kharma Mine, located in the Inquisivi Province of the La Paz Department, Bolivia, stands as a premier world locality for the rare association of native antimony with gold and quartz. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within Paleozoic sedimentary rocks that were fractured and mineralized by hydrothermal fluids during the Tertiary period, forming narrow, high-grade veins. These veins are characterized by a distinct paragenesis where massive, metallic tin-white native antimony is embedded directly within milky quartz, often accompanied by native gold and minor stibnite. Historically, mining and underground quarrying at Kharma were most intensive during the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s through the 1960s, as the mine served as a significant producer of antimony ore for global industrial markets. This period coincides with the discovery of numerous museum-quality specimens that reached international collectors, showcasing the unique metallic luster and high purity of the native element.

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