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Enargite with Quartz

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Enargite, a copper-arsenic sulphosalt, forms magnificent specimens at the Quiruvilca mine in Santiago de Chuco Province, Peru. This Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au mine exploits a mesothermal and epithermal ore body in an area of andesitic and basaltic volcanics. This quite superb cabinet specimen has more than twenty excellent Enargite crystals covering an approximately 9.5 x 7 cm mixed Quartz and Pyrite matrix. The Enargite, whose largest crystal measures 3.8 x 1.3 x 1.5 cm, is heavily dusted with micro-crystals of Pyrite as sub-mm cubes and pyritohedrons with drusy areas of microcrystalline, light grey Quartz. The broad prismatic Enargite crystals have deeply striated prism faces and flat pinacoidal terminations, the profiles of which look like canoes or small sail boats with pointed bows and sterns. This is a sublime specimen of wonderfully crystallised Enargite from the Quiruvilca mine in Peru. Ex. the Dr Josef Clemente Collection of southern Germany.