Gratonite (Type Locality)

Unknown Owner

Gratonite is a rare lead-arsenic sulfosalt and the Excelsior Mine in Peru is the type locality for the species. This is an exceptional thumbnail cluster consisting of several dozen, lead-gray metallic, almost pseudocubic at first glance, but are actually trigonal, with crystals between 1.5 and 3 mm. They are truly rare on the market having mostly come out mostly in the mid-1930s and then trickled out a few times, but probably as hold-backs from the original find. It is a very sculptural and reflective piece piece with crystals protruding everywhere, even on the back. This is a full sized, elegant thumbnail with good sized crystals for the species. Ex. Eduard Lopatka and Hans-Jurgen Wilke collections. Gratonite is hard to obtain these days, and one of the most desirable of rare sulfides in my opinion for its beauty and crystal habit.