Chalcopyrite

$7,500.00

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This is an absolute Mexican classic and an exceptional one at that. Known for some of the finest crystals of the extremely rare silver sulphosalt species Polybasite, the San Juan de Rayas mine at Guanajuato was discovered in 1550 and was once considered the deepest mine in the world. Mined for silver and gold it is its rare silver-bearing species for which it is known by mineral collectors but specimens are not seen very often. Its Polybasite is remarkable for the quality and size of its platy hexagonal crystals, but most specimens consist of thumbnail-sized small crystal groups of miniatures. This stunning specimen is extraordinarily rich, reaching smaller cabinet in size and featuring an attractive combination of a bed of small but well-formed Quartz crystals upon which is developed an extensive aggregate of large (to over 1 cm across) platy Polybasite crystals coated with golden and iridescent tiny Chalcopyrite crystals. To add to its interest are sparse dark grey cubic microcrystals of Acanthite. Not only is this an extremely rare specimen from this famous mine, but it is beautiful too.