Silver leaf

A beautifully preserved leaf of native silver from the historic Beaver Mine, one of the deepest and most productive operations in the Cobalt mining district. The specimen shows the classic foliated or “leaf” habit, formed when native silver crystallized along thin fractures and partings in the carbonate host rock. Its intricate, natural metallic texture and soft patina highlight the exceptional crystallization for which Cobalt silver is renowned.

The Beaver Mine, active between 1907 and 1940, was one of the major producers of the early Cobalt silver boom. The mine was developed through two main shafts, the deepest reaching a remarkable 1,600 feet, with over 8.5 miles of drifts and crosscuts. Over its lifetime, the Beaver Mine yielded approximately 7.1 million ounces of silver and 140,000 pounds of cobalt, ranking it among the most significant contributors to Ontario’s storied silver-mining history.