Plata Filiforme
Plata is a mineral with formula Ag, in the Elementos nativos group. This specimen comes from Himmelsfürst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirgkreis, Sajonia, Alemania and joined the Terrium collection in 2005.
Description
Elegant silver wire. Long, wavy filament with a curled termination. Age-related patina.
History of this specimen
I got it from the private collection of Christian Rewitzer, co-author with Miguel Calvo Rebollar of the "Atlas de Minerales de España". It had previously belonged to Dr Hartl, who kept it under number 20771 until 2024, when he sold it to the couple Nadya and Todor Georgieva of Quebul Minerals.
About Plata
Native silver in wire habit (silber-locke) typical of Freiberg, valued for its elongate growth with irregular twists that record deformation during mineralisation. The dark patina is common on old silvers from this area, often referred to as 'curly silvers'.
About the locality
Himmelsfürst Mine is one of Freiberg's most noted sources of silver wires and curls of elegant geometry; reference material in European collecting since the 18th century.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0290
- Composition
- Ag
- Name
- Plata
- Variety
- Filiforme
- Group
- Elementos nativos
- Category
- Estélites
- Mine
- Himmelsfürst Mine
- District / Municipality
- Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District
- Province
- Erzgebirgkreis
- Region
- Sajonia
- Country
- Alemania
- Size (cm)
- 44 x 6 x 2
- Weight
- 0.4 g
- Acquired
- 2005
- Ex-collection
- Dr. Hartl > Christian Rewitzer
- Etymology
- From the Latin "argentum", related to brightness and whiteness.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Arsénico (Nativo) — Alemania
- Autunita — Alemania
- Cobre — Australia
- Estroncianita — Alemania
- Hematites (Especularita Azul) — Alemania
- Natrozippeita — Alemania
- Oro (Nativo) — Rumanía
- Oro (Nativo) — Canadá