Sperrylite

Unknown Owner

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So few platinum group minerals form visible crystals we care about as collectors. In crystalline form, Sperrylite is one of the world's great platinum minerals; and specimens of quality came only from 3 sources : a historic locality in South Africa known only in museum specimens; small crystals from Canada that frankly do not generally occur as worthy specimens in this size overall; and a remote, government-controlled deposit found here some years ago (most, such as this, came out in the 1990s). Here there are over a dozen sharp, superbly lustrous crystals up to 7 mm on matrix. It is sparkly and bright, and they display well as it sits upright. The contrast of colors between the Sperrylite and the Chalcopyrite matrix is attractive. The cubic crystals are absolutely mirror-like, which is extremely attractive but very hard to photograph. Sperrylites are very scarce on the market and generally anything of this size and richness would cost a bit more (but we bought this years ago). Good aesthetics, and much better in person! For a miniature in a good price range, it is very difficult to obtain a nice Sperrylite today. We had this a decade ago and it recently came back home.