Tennantite with Quartz

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

Sharp tetrahedral Tennantite crystals are a rare, but distinctive feature of the famous Tsumeb mine in Namibia. With the redefining of the Tetrahedrite Group and the creation of the Tennantite Subgroup many former Tennantite occurrences without analytical data are simply grouped under the heading Tennantite Subgroup. However, analyses of other specimens of this form from Tsumeb appear to indicate that they are Tennantite-(Zn) and this is supported by some being associated with oxidation to Smithsonite - a zinc mineral. This superb miniature specimen displays extremely sharp, well-formed tetrahedra reaching 2 cm on edge, and showing the typical dark grey, matt surface seen on Tsumeb specimens. A light, patchy, overgrowth of white 'needle' Quartz crystals can be seen, but does not detract from the magnificent display of Tennantite crystals. An extremely fine Tennantite-(Zn).