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Sperrylite

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A well developed cubic crystal of the rare platinum arsenide, Sperrylite, from its type locality at Vermilion mine by Denison Township in the Sudbury District of Ontario, Canada. Please note, the accompanying photograph shows two views of this specimen, each taken at about ninety degrees to one other. The Sperrylite forms a metallic silver cubic (isometric) crystal 3 mm on edge with corners modified to the octahedron and on top of this sit a much smaller cube, apparently epitaxially aligned and both with a bright metallic lustre. The Sperrylite is frozen within a tabular matrix of golden brassy Chalcopyrite. Originally worked for Gold, it was not until the gossan was examined by a chemist from the Canadian Copper Company, Frank Sperry, that the presence of platinum and palladium were recognised. Although a 3 mm crystal sounds pretty small, it is not bad at all for this super-rare species and is very good value at $400. Any platinum bearing mineral comes at a price and I feel this is a genuine bargain.