Bournonite (2009 find)

Machacamarca Mine, near Colavi, Potosi Department, Bolivia
Small Cabinet, 6.9 x 4.8 x 4.7 cm
Start Time: 01/17/2019 6:45:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 01/24/2019 6:45:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

This specimen was collected in 2009. It hails from one of the most exciting Bolivian localities of the last 10 years. For the quality, these specimens created a lot of excitement, so much so that one of the best pieces was featured on the cover of the March/April 2009 Issue of the Mineralogical Record ! This specimen is from the same mine and certainly could have been found very near the cover piece! This piece hosts several attractive, sharp, tabular, metallic silvery-grey color crystals of Bournonite with great form and sharp faces intermixed with grey Quartz and rhombs of greenish-gold Siderite. The largest crystal measures 2.5 cm across. I love the "stepped" edges on some of the crystals, giving them a near "cogwheel" shape. The piece is in excellent shape all around, and really looks beautiful from several angles. Honestly, the piece is better in person than the photos might indicate. I can't tell you how hard it is to get GOOD QUALITY matrix specimens of Bournonite from Bolivia now. They're all simply gone, and nothing seems to be finding its way to the market. Priced in my inventory at $1,750.

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