Silver

This specimen is a spear-like slice of high-grade ore, cut smooth on both sides, showcasing dendritic "herringbone" silver coated with safflorite and arsenides. It originates from the Siscoe O’Brien Mine, also known as the Miller Lake O’Brien Mine, a prominent silver-cobalt mine. The mine was discovered in 1908, initially acquired by the Miller Lake Company in 1909, and later by Siscoe Mines Limited in 1945. By 1962, the mine workings had reached a depth of 1,300 feet, as reported in the June 1962 issue of Precambrian magazine. The Siscoe O’Brien Mine was notably rich, with total production reaching 36,830,000 ounces of silver and 786,000 pounds of cobalt by 1965. This specimen is a great representation of the high-grade silver ore for which the mine was renowned.