Sphalerite with Barite and Fluorite (ex Paul Zerfass Collection)

Elmwood Mine, Smith County, Tennessee
Cabinet, 12.3 x 11.7 x 5.4 cm
Start Time: 07/13/2017 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/20/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Despite the fact that there are only a handful of minerals found at the Elmwood mine, some of them are among the most recognizable minerals in the world. The specimen are a favorite among collectors, and it's easy to see why. This piece features a cluster of fine, sharp, lustrous, translucent to gemmy reddish-brown "Ruby Jack" Sphalerite associated with a cluster of soft golden-white Barite and a small GEM quality purple Fluorite cube. Good quality for the material, and fairly aesthetic to boot. This piece is close around 30-40 years old, and is a worthwhile display piece especially coming from this prominent and celebrated zinc ore body! From the collection of the long time, beloved, well-known French field collector, Paul Zerfass (Collection #43). Zerfass built this worldwide collection over nearly 50 years, many of which were personally collected. A biography featuring specimens from his collection (along with his face on the cover) is in the May - June 2017 issue of French mineral magazine, Le Regne Mineral. We have a .pdf copy of the article for anybody interested in reading it (though it's mostly in French). Just drop us a line and know that you'd like to have a copy.

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