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Description
Pyrite crystal cluster with sphalerite
Beautiful small-cabinet-sized pyrite crystal cluster with sphalerite (var. Marmatite) from Huanzala, Peru
The mineral pyrite or iron pyrite is an iron sulfide. Its chemical formula is FeS2 (iron (II) disulfide). Occasionally people refer to it as fool’s gold.
Pyrite enjoyed brief popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries. Soldiers of this time used it as a source of ignition in early firearms, most notably the wheellock. In effect, in this gun, they placed a piece of pyrite against a circular file. Consequently, by striking the file the pyrite produced the sparks needed to fire the gun.
Huanzala is a lead-zinc mine with a 1,200 tons/day capacity. The mine is operated by Cia. Minera Santa Luisa and owned by Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. (Japan). The mine is famous all around the world for excellent pyrite and fluorite specimens. According to well-known mineral specimen importer Rock Currier, the Huanzala mine probably holds the world record with regard to the total tonnage of mineral specimens produced by a single mine. Furthermore according to Mardani Fine Minerals “Huanzala has been praised as one of the greatest pyrite localities of all time.”
Sphalerite ((Zn, Fe)S) is a mineral and ore of zinc. When the iron content is high, sphalerite forms an opaque black variety called marmatite.
Ernst Friedrich Glocker discovered the mineral in 1847. He named it based on the Greek word “sphaleros“. This means “deceiving” due to sphalerite being hard to identify. Sphalerite occurs in association with galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite (and other sulfides), calcite, dolomite, quartz, rhodochrosite, and fluorite. Miners have been known to refer to sphalerite as zinc blende, black-jack, and ruby blende.
Small-cabinet-size: 63 x 60 x 45 mm.
Weight: 287 gr
Origin: Huanzala mine, Ancash, Peru
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Additional information
Prices | Regular Price, Carbon Positive Price |
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