Home > Silver Minerals – October 23 > MS1006 Sylvanite

Sylvanite - Sold


Sylvanite is a silver gold telluride mineral. Klaproth (1802) noticed this mineral in gold ores from Transylvania, and remarked how the crystallization resembled writing on the rock, i.e. "Schrifterz". The modern mineral name derives from the designation sylvane in Beudant (1832), in allusion to the type locality in Transylvania. This is a rich piece with 8 mm crystals lying flat on matrix.

This specimen was part of the personal collection of Ralph Merrill, proprietor of the prolific mail order business Minerals Unlimited. Merrill's collection card and label also ship with the specimen.