Pyrargyrite

specimen number:
8911083

location:
San Genaro Mine, Castrovirreyna, Huancavelica, Peru

description:
A lustrous solid mass of pyrargyrite. Good reference size thumbnail specimen for the species and locality. The specimen comes with a previous label from the Alton collection.

The San Genaro Mine, located in the Castrovirreyna District of Huancavelica, Peru, is situated in a high-altitude Neogene volcanic arc dominated by calc-alkaline volcanic sequences and complex fault structures. Hydrothermal mineralization occurred as polymetallic epithermal veins cutting through late Miocene volcanic tuffs and andesite flows, enriched in precious silver and base metals. The mine has a rich history spanning back to Spanish colonial times, though modern mechanization in the twentieth century greatly expanded production and opened up rich secondary silver pockets. San Genaro is world-renowned among specimen collectors for producing world-class pyrargyrite, often found as well-formed, highly lustrous, deep red to metallic dark grey prismatic crystals sitting on matrix with quartz, baryte, or sphalerite. These brilliant silver sulfosalt specimens are considered benchmarks for the species and are prized by mineral museums and private collectors worldwide.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.