Galena with Sphalerite

Unknown Owner

This rather splendid Galena with Sphalerite is from Baxter Springs within the Picher Field of Cherokee County, Kansas, USA, part of the Tri-State District. The matrix, densely coated with tiny Sphalerite crystals, is topped with beautifully stacked silver-grey, cubic Galena crystals slightly modified to the octahedron and in epitaxial alignment. Because of this, every cubic prism is orientated exactly the same, and so too the corners, bevelled to the octahedron. I consider these things of beauty and find them totally fascinating; what wonders nature produces. It's a showy specimen perfect of display.