Jáchymov (Joachimsthal)
Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:
Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Czech Republic, is a historic silver and uranium district — the source of the word “dollar” and of Marie Curie's pitchblende.
About Jáchymov (Joachimsthal)extended article
Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), in the Czech Ore Mountains, is one of the world's richest historic mineral districts — the birthplace of the word 'dollar' and, later, the first source of radium.
Silver, then radium
Rich silver was discovered here in 1512, and the silver Joachimsthaler coins gave their name to the 'thaler' and ultimately the dollar. Later the district's pitchblende made it the world's first radium source — Marie Curie isolated radium and polonium from Jáchymov ore in 1898. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage mining landscape.
A mineralogical treasure-house
Jáchymov has yielded over 400 mineral species, more than 40 of them first described here, including silver, proustite, erythrite and uraninite. Its type-locality and historic specimens are highly prized.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jáchymov (Joachimsthal)?
Jáchymov (Joachimsthal) is a mineral locality in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. It lies at approximately 50.3700°N, 12.9200°E. Elevation is about 660 m.
What minerals are found at Jáchymov (Joachimsthal)?
Signature minerals from Jáchymov (Joachimsthal) include Silver, Uraninite. The locality lies in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, and each mineral links to a full reference entry with formula, crystal system, and collector notes.
What is Jáchymov (Joachimsthal) known for?
Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Czech Republic, is a historic silver and uranium district — the source of the word “dollar” and of Marie Curie's pitchblende.
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