S archived mineral specimens

Sampleite

#RW49132

Availability: Sold

Locality: Endeavor 26, North Parkes Mine, New South Wales, Australia
Formula: NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O
Size: SmCabinet 6.5x5.5x2cm
Tagged: phosphate , copper

Neon blue pods of radiating Sampleite clusters to 9mm across.

Sampleite at Dakota Matrix Sampleite at WebMineral Sampleite at MinDat

Samsonite

#PD35780

Availability: Sold

Locality: Samson mine, St Andreasberg dist., Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany
Formula: Ag₄MnSb₂S₆
Size: Thumbnail 2.5x2x1.5cm
Tagged: sulfide
Special Info: EDS Confirmed

Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this one in the flat. Short prismatic crystals to 8mm. There are numerous smaller from minute 1mm to the longest at about 8mm. Some deep internal red reflections can be seen. Backside contains some nice Pyrargyrite. Some possible Dyscrasite. Some Pyrite. EDS confirmed.

Samsonite at Dakota Matrix Samsonite at WebMineral Samsonite at MinDat

Samsonite

#41064

Availability: Sold

Locality: Samson mine, St Andreasberg dist., Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany
Formula: Ag₄MnSb₂S₆
Size: Thumbnail 1.5x1.5x1.5cm
Tagged: sulfide , silver
Special Info: Type Locality
Special Info: EDS Confirmed

This is an EDS verified Samsonite. Samsonite is a highly sought after silver-manganese sulfosalt found in only six worldwide localites thus far. Andreasberg is the classical locality in which Samsonite is known for and is the type locality, named after the mine. All of the Samsonite photos you see on Mindat are from the Samson mine, and only two or three are larger in crystal length than this specimen. Personally, I have seen only two specimens in my lifetime, both of which were sold on this website. The other specimen can be seen on our Mineralpedia page for Samsonite.

The crystals are all deeply striated with hints of red internal reflections typically seen in silver sulfosalts. The largest crystal is 7mm long but is not terminated. There is another 5mm crystal, which is nearly parallel to the largest crystal, but it is seperated by about 1mm at the base. The crystals merge together at the top giving the appearance that there is only one crystal, which is not the case. There is another 1mm stubby crystal seperate from the main crystals. As stated, Samsonite is extremely hard to obtain. It comes with an older label, circa 1954, as seen on the old label (see Prov. tab).

Samsonite at Dakota Matrix Samsonite at WebMineral Samsonite at MinDat