Erythrite (ex Paul Zerfass Collection)

Bou Azer District, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Draa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Small Cabinet, 5.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 cm
Start Time: 08/10/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 08/17/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Oddly, this piece came labeled as "Erubescite", which is a synonym of Bornite, but it's clearly an Erythrite from Bou Azer. The number on the specimen matches the label, so it might just be an oversight in terms of the confusion between the species. Sharp, lustrous, striated, "sword"-shaped, rich purplish-fuchsia colored crystals of Erythrite sit on matrix. The largest crystal measures 1.0 cm, and while the piece is not damage free, it's a decent reference specimen of this classic material from Morocco. From the collection of the long time, beloved, well-known French field collector, Paul Zerfass (Collection #520). 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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