MUSEUM QUALITY PYRITE. ...

Description

MUSEUM QUALITY PYRITE
Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO 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 anything but common. As a prominent producer of fine Pyrite specimens, the Quiruvilca Mine in Peru was (during the 1970-1980's) a source of exquisitely beautiful groups of giant, octahedral crystal aggregates such as the one seen here. 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 brilliant scintillating appearance. In addition to the size and perfection of the specimen, it has the prestige of having been part of the Smithsonian Institution Collection and it comes with the original Smithsonian label #147880 to prove it. Accompanied with a custom base, it measures 4 ¾ x 6 ½ x 6 ½ inches.
Provenance: Smithsonian Institution Collection

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