Sphalerite coated with Chalcopyrite

$1,250.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

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This is a stunning elongated cabinet piece of Sphalerite with large crystals that have a distinct and unusual yellow-bronze-colored coating of Chalcopyrite on them and it comes from the famous old mines in Huanzala, Peru. The big Sphalerite crystals measure up to 3.5 cm across and most are oriented so that the triangular intersection of their large faces are upright and present a wonderful geometric array of triangular shapes at the top of the crystals. The Sphalerites themselves are a lustrous gray-black as evident from portions of them that aren't coated, and this is apparent from the underside where the piece is contacted where removed from the vein. The big Sphalerite crystals are glazed by a thin veneer (surely under 1 mm thick) of yellow-bronze Chalcopyrite that adds a higher level of aesthetics to the piece and really makes it stand out! Definitely an atypical Sphalerite from Peru or anywhere! This likely dates to the 1990s or early 2000s.