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Chlorargyrite

Named after the chlorine in the composition as well as the silver content after the Greek argyros. Chlorargyrite is relatively common and has localities that possess fine material and/or large or pure quantities in Germany, the Czech Republic, England, Russia, the United States, Mexico, Chile, and Australia. Found typically in arid climates, Chlorargyrite occurs in oxidized areas above silver deposits, and can be a rich ore in some cases.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/chlorargyrite.pdf
- Formula
- AgCl
- Crystal System
- Isometric
- Crystal Habit
- Massive, Columnar
- Cleavage
- None, None, None
- Luster
- Adamantine - Resinous
- Color
- purplish gray, green, white, colorless
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Isometric - Hexoctahedral
- Fracture
- Sectile
- Hardness
- 1-1.5
- WebMineral
- View Chlorargyrite
- Mindat
- View Chlorargyrite
Chlorargyrite from Hardscrabble mine, Lawrence Co., South Dakota, United States

Several tiny, waxy looking crystal to about 0.75mm in drusy quartz vug of siliceous Deadwood Formation.
Chlorargyrite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States

Waxy gray, crude octahedral crystals to 2mm.
Chlorargyrite from Iron Hill Mine, Carbonate, Lawrence Co., South Dakota, United States

Waxy, tan to light brown, amorphous mass of Chlorargyrite crystals, 5mm.
Chlorargyrite from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

- Special Info
- EDS Confirmed
An incredible specimen loaded with yellow, waxy, crudely crystallized bromian Chlorargyrite on Atacamite. Excellent, older specimen. I ran EDS on this specimen thinking this might be Marshite since it was associated with Atacamite. No such luck, but nonetheless a great probably historic specimen from one of the most mines in the world.
Chlorargyrite from San Rafael mine, Nye Co., Nevada, United States

- Special Info
- EDS Confirmed
Light greyish green waxy looking nearly cubic crystals of Chlorargyite scattered amongst blonde wulfenite and clear prismatic Mimetite.
Chlorargyrite from Blue Bell mine, San Bernardino Co., California, United States

Numerous dark greenish gray, waxy, Chlorargyrite crystals, some showing good forms, on tiny acicular Dioptase crystals. Excellent specimen.
Chlorargyrite from Proprietary mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
A weird and interesting specimen of waxy grey Chlorargyrite with several Cerussite crystals attached to 5mm.
Greenish grey, waxy blobs and well-formed crystals of Chlorargyrite, variety embolite. The masses and crystals reach 8mm and 3mm respectively.
Chlorargyrite from Lake Valley District, Sierra Co., New Mexico, United States
Lemon yellow, waxy, skeletal Chlorargyrite. The largest blob is 2.5mm. There is actually some crystallinity with the Chlorargyrite, but this is typical for the species. Only rarely will you find good crystals of Chlorargyrite. The matrix is somewhat "spongy" and filled with colorless to dark grey Cerussite.
Chlorargyrite from Mackay, Lemhi Co., Idaho, United States
Dark grey waxy blebs and mal-formed cubic crystals of Chlorargyrite to 2mm with massive coverage on the backsite. There are also several Cerussite crystals. Interestingly native Silver re-crystalized on the Chlorargytite on the backside.
Chlorargyrite from Shafter district, Presidio Co., Texas, United States
The specimen was originally labeled as "Argentite" by Hampson. Upon close inspection, I did not see any sign of Argentite/Acanthite, however I did observe plenty of waxy grey Chlorargyrite, a sure sign of Silver ore. This is an old time locality. Most likely from the Presidio Shaft, although the labels it as "Shafter Mine". During the period of 1927-1940, the district recorded a production of 11.8 million ounces of Silver and 7 million pounds of Lead from manto deposits in Permian limestones.
Acquired by Hampson in 1944.
Chlorargyrite from Little Jonny Mine, Leadville, Lake Co., Colorado, United States
Little 2-4mm greyish yellow, waxy Chlorargyrite crystals in a limonite basket. The Little Jonny mine is also known as the Ibex mine. The mine had 50 miles of underground workings with five shafts. The mine was first operated by J. J. "Leadville Jonny" Brown, who married "Unsinkable Mollie Brown" of the Titanic fame. Read more here.
Chlorargyrite from Teutonic Bore Mine, Ten Mile Outcamp, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Light yellow waxy crystals of Chlorargyrite to 5mm with Cerussite in limonitic matrix.
Chlorargyrite from Calico Silver mine, San Bernardino Co., California, United States
Waxy brownish grey to yellow micro crystals around 1mm. The photo of the vug shows nice yellow crystals. The other photos show crude crystals, but one area has excellent euhedral crystals. Good old locality specimen acquired by Hampson in 1946 on his incedible journey. Read about it here.
Chlorargyrite from Vekol mine, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States
A rich specimen full of greenish grey to slightly yellow, waxy, well formed crystals of Chlorargyrite. The crystals are from 0.25mm to about 1mm in size.