Pyrrhotite on Quartz

Unknown Owner

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This incredible large specimen is the finest large pyrrho I have seen since handling the well-known "Freilich specimen," from Sotheby's, in 2001. That piece was bigger, but this one is more elegant and significant because of the larger size of the pyrrhotite clusters. And I have seen a lot of them! The piece has stark, 3-dimensional clusters leaping off of crystallized quartz matrix. Despite the massiveness of the pyrrhotite clusters, their bright brassy color and curving form give them an elegance that a similarly sized galena or sphalerite would not have. the piece looks almost biological, with "snakes" of golden pyrrhotite "climbing" up the matrix to jump off the top like lemmings. The specimen is complete on all sides but the back, where it is naturally contacted. It was mined in 1996, I am told. On the whole specimen, there are just a few small spots of edge wear and thats it. It is nearly pristine, remarkable given the size and composition. Here is a world class example of the species, at a frankly bargain price. But, I got it cheaply, myself, so....