Dolomite with Chalcopyrite

Unknown Owner

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Exceptional and rare, this small-cabinet combination is part of a very recent find in Shanxi (2024), which was a one time zone of small pockets, and not seen since. Rob was in China a lot at the time, and purchased these directly from the miners, so we can give you the correct locality: they have been sold as calcite from 3 different locations, previously; but are truly dolomite and from this remote and little known mining district. The true location was hidden until 2025, to keep others away in case more could be found - and none was found. Quality like this, with transparent (not merely translucent) dolomite, sharply formed and with gorgeous chalcopyrite, is so very rare. The centerpiece is a 6 cm, gem-clear rhomb of dolomite with great luster and sharp edges all around. Draped about the dolomite are dozens upon dozens of sharp, brilliant, iridescent chalcopyrite sphenoids. Up to about 5 mm, these golden and magenta crystals add an almost royal touch to the piece, and together the aesthetics and quality are superb. The piece is nearly a floater, with only a tiny attachment point near the bottom left and otherwise complete 360, and gorgeous both front and back. The pics can only hint at how good this piece really is when it is resting in your hands. This is an ancient copper mining area, starting around 2000 BC. Mining is documented into the modern era and now also produces molybdenum, cobalt and nickel ores.