Chrysoprase
specimen number:
1052697
location:
Szklary, Gmina Zabkowice Slaskie, Zabkowice Slaskie Co., Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
description: The Szklary mining district (historically documented by its classic German name, Frankenstein), located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of southwestern Poland, is the most famous European historical locality for pristine gem-quality chrysoprase, the nickel-bearing apple-green variety of chalcedony. Geologically, this world-class deposit is located within the Szklary serpentinite massif, where ultra-mafic peridotites underwent intense hydrothermal alteration and lateritic weathering during the Tertiary period. This chemical breakdown concentrated nickel, which subsequently integrated into microcrystalline silica structures to precipitate rich networks of bright green chrysoprase veins, white chalcedony, and dark green pimelite coatings throughout the fractured serpentinite bedrock. Historically, primitive surface quarrying and trenching specifically targeting the precious green gemstones began during the Middle Ages, with formal records dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries when Silesian chrysoprase became highly coveted for royal jewelry and the opulent decoration of European palaces. Large-scale industrial exploitation shifted toward heavy economic metals in 1891 with the opening of an underground nickel ore mine, transitioning into extensive mechanized open-pit operations by the Friedrich Krupp company in 1935. Following World War II, the mines and adjacent pyrometallurgical smelter passed to Polish state control, running continuously until the exhaustion of the highest-grade nickel ore veins and modern environmental hazards forced the permanent cessation of all mining operations in 1983. Wilhelm Hoyer (1849-1913) was a prominent German engineer and mineral collector based in Hanover, whose professional work in railway construction and geology facilitated the assembly of a significant mineralogical collection. Geologically, Hoyer was noted for his deep expertise in the Mesozoic formations of northwestern Germany, particularly the Hildesheim area, where he meticulously documented and collected specimens from active quarries and construction sites. His collection was scientifically important for its comprehensive representation of regional minerals and fossils, reflecting the systematic approach of 19th-century European collectors who bridged the gap between industrial mining and academic mineralogy. Historically, Hoyer was active in the latter half of the 1800s and early 1900s, contributing numerous papers to geological societies and maintaining professional ties with major institutions of his era. Following his death, his extensive mineralogical and paleontological holdings were integrated into the collections of the University of Gottingen and the Prussian Geological Survey in Berlin, where they continue to serve as vital reference materials for researchers through 2026.
A polished piece of chrysoprase from this old classic Polish locality. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown in the picture and at the end of the video. This was previously in the collection of Wilhelm voyeur and dates to the 19th century.
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