Uraninite & Native Silver Wire — Eldorado Mine, Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada

An exceptional and historically significant association specimen featuring Uraninite with Native Silver in wire form from the legendary Eldorado Mine at Port Radium on the eastern shore of Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories — one of the most important and storied mining localities in Canadian history.

The Eldorado Mine occupies a unique place in world history. It was from Eldorado ore that Madame Curie's original radium supply was sourced in the early twentieth century. The mine later became Canada's primary source of uranium oxide for the Manhattan Project during World War II, and its ore was processed at Port Hope, Ontario. The name Port Radium itself reflects the mine's historic role in the global radium trade. Great Bear Lake uranium — including the famous 900-gram uraninite specimens known among advanced collectors — represents some of the finest and most historically resonant uranium mineral material ever produced.

The association of Uraninite with Native Silver wire is a mineralogically exceptional combination. Native Silver in wire habit is a classic and highly collectible silver ore form, and its co-occurrence with Uraninite reflects the hydrothermal ore-forming conditions that made the Eldorado deposit unique among world uranium occurrences. Specimens combining both species from this locality are rare and represent a compelling intersection of uranium mineralogy and native element collecting.

This specimen carries extraordinary dual provenance — scientific, historical, and mineralogical — making it among the most significant Canadian radioactive mineral pieces that can be held in a private collection.

Uraninite is a radioactive mineral. Native Silver is non-radioactive. The radioactive component is the Uraninite. Suitable for advanced collectors and researchers with appropriate handling and storage knowledge.

This is a personal collection piece that I am still not 100% sure I'm wanting to let go, but will for the right price.

Approx. specimen size: 40mm x 25mm x 25mm

Approx. specimen weight: 22 grams

Approx. specimen activity on an SE International Ranger EXP: 14000 CPM