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Bournonite

Unknown Owner
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This is an excellent, and unusual, example of the Bournonites from Yaogangxian, which have frequently been world-class. What is unusual, rather than having the cogwheel habit, is that this is a set of three stacked stereotypical crystals, of which the top one is actually doubly-terminated and the middle one very nearly so! The Bournonites have superb luster (so bright and metallic), and a very slight surface oxidation that creates a wonderful blue, gold, and purple iridescence. I would say that for the quality and size (the upper crystals are about 1.8 cm each), it would be hard to do better in this size even unless you found an equivalent cogwheel. The coating makes all the difference. Note there is a natural crack running through part of the top crystal but it is not repaired or broken. At the very top of its game, this mine's Bournonites are, to me and most others, among the most beautiful in the world.

Product details

SpeciesBournonite
SizeMiniature
Dimensions3.2 x 2.2 x 1.5 cm
Added on10/23/2024

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2024Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
The ArkenstoneNot disclosed

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Bournonite
Mineral guide
Learn about Bournonite
steel-gray to black sulfosalt famed for cogwheel twinning and metallic luster; prized by collectors for iconic gears and historic localities.
Bournonite
Regional guide
Bournonite from Yaogangxian Mine, China
from Yaogangxian Mine, China: silvery gray, sharply crystallized crystals with twinning; part of a rich hydrothermal assemblage prized by collectors.