Name: Chalcocite ps. Tennantite on Quartz
Brand: The Arkenstone
Price: 1250 USD
Availability: InStock

Chalcocite ps. Tennantite on Quartz

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This is a most unusual, and attractive, pseudomorph from Tsumeb, the mine of so much variety and so many classic and collectible sulfide minerals such as both chalcocite and tennantite. There is one large and a few smaller charcoal-gray tetrahedral crystals on this piece that appear to be Chalcocite after Tennantite and are nestled in amongst small, frosted Quartz crystals. In the past, they have all been labeled as tennantite but the surface texture and iridescence in color seems to indicate a replacement (the tennantite should not oxidize to give the colors), although it is most likely this crystal is perhaps a mixture of both species now. However, when they have this look to them, we have chosen to label them as Chalcocite after Tennantite. When more lustrous, it is probably still primary tennantite. The large Tennantite pseudomorph measures 3.5 cm on its longest edge and there is another sidecar on the rear of this one measuring 1.5 cm. The two other smaller crystals on the piece are just under 1 cm. These interesting Chalcocite after Tennantite pseudomorphs rest on a jackstraw matrix of milky white Quartz crystals up to 7 mm in length for great contrast and presentation. This piece is in excellent condition and is a rare old classic, Ex. Richard Rossi collection.