Silver with Acanthite

  • Updated
    07/12/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Silver with acanthite D.50716 Click to enlarge image
Kongsberg Norway 9 x 4.5 x 0.85 cm Registered 1996 D.50716 Albert Chapman Collection Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Australian Museum

This magnificent twisted crystalline wire silver with acanthite (silver sulphide) is from the classic old locality of Kongsberg, Norway. Specimens from this locality are highly prized because of their richness and the intricate detail of their wire silver crystal shapes.

Specimen details

  • Origin

    Kongsberg, Norway

  • Size

    9 x 4.5 x 0.85 cm

  • Date

    Registered 1996

  • Collection number

    D.50716

  • Collection

    Albert Chapman Collection

The Kongsberg Silver Mine was discovered in 1623. King Christian IV claimed the mine for the Crown and German miners were imported to work it. It was a very rich mine and Kongsberg became Norway’s largest city. By 1771, 80 silver mines were in full production and yielded 1370 tonnes of pure silver. The mines were in production until the late 1950s.

Albert Chapman acquired this specimen through an exchange with the University of Paris in 1976.

Silver with acanthite D.50716
Silver with acanthite D.50716. Kongsberg, Norway. 9 x 4.5 x 0.85 cm. Registered 1996. Albert Chapman Collection. Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Australian Museum

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