Arsenopyrite with Quartz
Unknown Owner
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A massive, very old specimen of sharp arsenopyrite crystals to 2 inches, showcasing fabulous luster and sharp form, this is an antique style from the early production at Yaogangxian Mine. It came out in the 1990s and has since been in the Steve Smale collection, known for a large Chinese suite of several thousand specimens built in the heyday of the 1990s and early 2000s. This is a heavy, important example from those times, and of this style. It has almost no damage at all, just a few very faint edge dings, and displays beautifully in a showcase. Later styles were simply different, and generally did not have such robust crystals. Sometimes, we see larger but definitely less lustrous arsenopyrite crystals labelled as Yaogangxian, a little different in form; but generally I have felt that those were misattributed specimens actually from the PiaoTang/Babu mines in Jiangxi, simply sold out of the Changsha or Chenzhou (Hunan) mineral marketplaces back in the day (and therefore mislabelled by assumption they were from YGX). A significant specimen.
Product details
SpeciesQuartz, Arsenopyrite
SizeCabinet
Dimensions12.4 x 10.9 x 5.9 cm
Added on10/23/2024
LocalityChina, Hunan, Yaogangxian Mine
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 11/2024 | Unknown Owner | $4,500.00 |
| — | The Arkenstone | Not disclosed |
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