Silver

A remarkably rich carbonate vein section from the fabled University Mine, near Cobalt, Ontario. This specimen has been sawn on one side to reveal the dense network of native silver clots and veinlets coursing through the gangue, while the remaining sides are left natural and rough, preserving the authentic texture of the vein material. The silver is present as thick, metallic masses and branching veinlets, with small nodules and beads of silver protruding on the back and along the edges — a striking testament to the richness of the deposit.

The University Mine was one of the classic high-grade silver producers in the Cobalt camp, an area renowned for its extraordinary native silver veins discovered in the early 1900s. Like many of the historic workings in the district, it exploited narrow but extremely rich carbonate veins containing native silver, cobalt and nickel arsenides, and associated calcite. The mine operated intermittently through much of the early to mid-20th century, contributing significantly to the region’s reputation as one of the great silver camps of the world.