Bournonite

Unknown Owner

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There are a few well-known Bournonite occurrences in the South American Andes mountains, including Viboras mine, Potosí, Bolivia where arguably the world's most spectacular crystals have been found in recent years. This very large and richly crystallized specimen comes from a much earlier locality - that of the Huaron Mining District in Pasco department, Peru. The crystals are much smaller than those from Viboras mine, but are nevertheless really well-formed and the specimen is literally covered in hundreds of them, most showing excellent 'cogwheel' twinning and in fine condition. This piece comes from David Hardman's collection and he likely obtained it during the 1970s or 1980s. The term Huaron Mining District covers many possible mines, but mineral specimens are really attributed to specific mines in this remote part of the Andes mountains. Bournonite specimens from the Huaron Mining District are now rarely seen making this an important piece for collectors of sulphosalt species.