MUSEUM QUALITY PYRITE. ...

Description

MUSEUM QUALITY PYRITE
Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru
The widespread and common occurrence of Pyrite serves to obscure the fact that large and perfect groups of Pyrite crystals are not common. In the 1970-1980's, the Quiruvilca Mine was a prominent producer of fine Pyrite specimens. It was the source for this exquisitely beautiful group of giant, octahedral crystals - there are no less than 18 separate octahedrons making up this "Mountain of Fool's Gold". Triangular faces, up to 3 inches on edge, display an almost infinite number of negative crystal faces, giving the specimen a brilliantly scintillating appearance. In addition to the size and perfection of the specimen, it was part of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum Collection and it comes with the original Smithsonian label #147880. Accompanied by a custom base, it measures 4¾ inches high by 6½ x 6½ inches.
Provenance: Smithsonian Institution Collection

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