Bournonite ("cogwheels")

Item Description

One of the few best "cogwheel" specimens of Bournonite that I have offered from Bolivia in the auctions for a while. This piece features attractive, sharp, fairly thick, tabular, very lustrous, metallic, silvery color, "cogwheel"-shaped crystal groups without matrix. This specimen is from a find in 2005 in Bolivia, and is damage free on the display side, though it's not complete on the back/bottom where it was removed from the pocket. Comparatively, the Bolivian Bournonite "cogwheels" are priced significantly lower than their contemporary Chinese counterparts, and a piece like this from Machacamarca is very difficult to find. To have an UN-damaged specimen like this (usually they're always dinged up) with great form AND luster is RARE from Bolivia regardless of size. Valued at $350.