Luzonite with Enargite

Unknown Owner

An outstanding example for this rare mineral, metallic lustrous crystallized luzonite is covering the top of this matrix with prismatic lustrous metallic crystals of enargite to 0.5 cm in size. A great combination piece and in very good condition. The specimen would have been brought to the United States by Abraham Rosenzweig in the 1970s. Luzonite is a copper arsenic sulfide mineral that occurs in high sulfidation epithermal deposits, and notable specimens have come from the Chinkuashih Mine in northern Taiwan. Mining at Chinkuashih began in the late 19th century under Japanese administration and the district became one of Taiwans most important gold and copper producing areas. The ore bodies formed in volcanic rocks and yielded gold, copper minerals, and a variety of sulfosalts including luzonite and enargite. Although large scale mining declined in the late 20th century, the area is now preserved as a heritage site and remains well known among mineral collectors for its distinctive copper arsenic minerals.