Carpathite (highly fluorescent)

Picacho Mine (Picachos Mine; Los Picachos Mine), Picacho Peak, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito County, California
Miniature, 3.7 x 2.8 x 2.6 cm
Start Time: 05/30/2019 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 06/06/2019 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Carpathite is a rare species - specifically an organic hydrocarbon - or more specifically a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The species was formerly referred to as Karpatite, Coronene, or Pendletonite. Chemically, the material is C24H12. I would say that the best known locality for Carpathite is the Picacho Mine (Los Picachos), a former Mercury producer. This miniature piece features a few thin, prismatic, bright yellow crystals of Carpathite measuring up to 1.8 cm, which are coated by drusy / sugary Quartz on matrix. Yes, there is some damage, but this is still remarkably rare material and very rarely available on the market. The Carpathite crystals also show a GORGEOUS bright blue fluorescence under both SW and LW UV light.

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