Arsenic with Quartz

This is a hefty specimen with mounded, satiny-lustered, dove-gray, very three-dimensional botryoidal growths of pure Native Arsenic covering the entire top of this cabinet piece. This is of the quality to rival, and even surpass, some of the old German specimens of Arsenic that have traditionally been the standard for the species. It is a large and unusual, botryoidal specimen of Native Arsenic that has been apparently built up in several layers of thick growth accompanied by showy Quartz crystals around the periphery. The Arsenic botryoids are from 0.5 to 2 cm across and the and the translucent, slightly milky Quartz crystals vary in size from 1 to 4 cm in length with most of them complete and terminated. This remarkable and artistic piece is from a single and highly unusual find of pure Arsenic at the historic Quiruvilca Mine in the summer of 2013. Although we have seen many specimens from this mine, including fine Orpiment, Native Arsenic had not previously been reported before this find. It remains a major discovery for the species and the country as well. This was considered by the owner to be the best of the larger specimens available when premiered at Munich show of that year, by a few dealers with Peru access. It is unusually balanced and aesthetic, and frankly one of so few examples of this important elemental species that anybody could even WANT in a display quality collection. Native arsenic in display quality is quite rare, and this is of a quality that draws the eye and should appeal to both museums and private collectors. Like others from this update, we are selling very special rare species items from a significant private collection.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Quartz, Arsenic

SizeCabinet

Dimensions11.5 x 9.5 x 6.7 cm

Locality

Peru, La Libertad, Quiruvilca Mine

Added on06/22/2025

Comments

Known provenance

2025/09