Nagyagite

specimen number:
2354096

location:
Sacaramb, Certeju de Sus, Hunedoara Co., Romania

description:
Thin metallic platy lustrous crystals of nagyagite to 0.5 cm in size quite thick across the top of a crystallized quartz matrix. While there are many crystals present, they are scattered and separated nicely. This is in very good condition. A fine and choice old Romanian classic.

Located in the Metaliferi Mountains of Hunedoara County, Romania, Sacaramb (historically known as Nagyag) near Certeju de Sus is a world-renowned historic mining district embedded in Neogene volcanic rocks, notably altered dacites and andesites. Hydrothermal mineralized veins formed during intense volcanic activity created rich gold-telluride deposits that were heavily mined from the mid-eighteenth century through the twentieth century. Sacaramb serves as the type locality for nagyagite, a rare black metallic sulfosalt composed of lead, gold, iron, antimony, bismuth, sulfur, and tellurium that typifies the complex ore mineralogy of the district. The striking foil-like or tabular dark grey to black leafy crystals of nagyagite quickly captured the attention of miners and scientific collectors, making Sacaramb one of Europe's most famous classical localities for gold and tellurium mineral specimens.

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