Quartz with Pyrite

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

This smaller cabinet-sized spray of white Quartz crystals overgrown by golden Pyrite is a classic from the 1980s workings at Wheal Jane in Cornwall, England. Specifically from the 15 Level on South Lode, it presents extremely well, sitting unsupported as a beautiful radiating spray of what some might call 'cactus'-style Quartz crystals, the longest of which reaches 5.4 cm in length. These crystals are classically colourless to greyish internally, but with an outer layer of white which shows the stepped prism surfaces giving the 'spiky' effect. A later, partial coating of complex Pyrite crystals (cubes, cubo-octahedra, etc.) sits on the surface of the Quartz crystals, providing a lovely golden contrast, but some of the Pyrite is tarnished and starting to degrade, but is easily removed. The Quartz crystals are all nicely terminated, with just the slightest of chipping to the tips of a couple of them. Ex Glyn Cunnick Collection, his accompanying label has two slight 'burn' marks from reaction with the Pyrite.